Elon Musk: Difference between revisions

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia
mNo edit summary
m (robot: Trimming article to decrease server load)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Business magnate (born 1971)}}
{{use mdy dates}}
{{Current person|date=April 2022|3=current acquisition}}
{{Good article}}
{{Pp-move-indef}}
{{Pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name                     = Elon Musk
| name               = Elon Musk
| honorific_suffix         = {{post-nominals|FRS|size=100%}}
| honorific_suffix   = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|FRS|size=100%}}
| image                     = Elon Musk Royal Society (crop2).jpg
| image             = Elon Musk Royal Society.jpg
| caption                   = Musk at the [[Royal Society]] admissions day in [[London]], 2018
| alt                = Musk at the Royal Society admissions day in London, July 2018
| birth_name               = Elon Reeve Musk
| caption           = Musk at the [[Royal Society]] admissions day in London, July 2018
| birth_date               = {{Birth date and age|1971|6|28}}
| birth_name         = Elon Reeve Musk
| birth_place               = [[Pretoria]], [[Transvaal Province|Transvaal]], [[South Africa]]
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1971|6|28}}
| death_date                =
| birth_place       = [[Pretoria]], [[South Africa]]
| death_place              =
| citizenship       = {{Plainlist|
| occupation                =
* South Africa (1971–1988)
| years_active              =
* Canada (1989–2001)
| citizenship               =
* United States (2002–present)
| education                = [[University of Pennsylvania]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]]; [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| title                    = {{Unbulleted list
  <!-- Do not add any of Musk's self-appointed titles without first reaching a consenus on the talk page. -->
  | Founder, CEO and Chief Engineer of [[SpaceX]]
  | CEO and product architect of [[Tesla, Inc.]]
  | Founder of [[The Boring Company]] and [[X.com]] (now part of [[PayPal]])
  | Co-founder of [[Neuralink]], [[OpenAI]], and [[Zip2]]
  |President of [[#Musk Foundation|Musk Foundation]]
  }}
| spouse                    = {{Plainlist|
* {{Marriage|[[Justine Musk|Justine Wilson]] | 2000|2008|end=div.}}
* {{Marriage|[[Talulah Riley]] | 2010|2012|end=div.}} {{Marriage|<!--Talulah Riley-->|2013|2016|end=div.}}
}}
}}
| partner                  = [[Grimes (musician)|Grimes]] (2018–2022)<ref name="GrimesVanityFair2022" />
| alma mater        = {{plainlist|
| children                  = 8<!--Do not remove the note. You have to verify the accuracy of 8 children.-->{{efn|group=note|One child is deceased.<ref>{{cite news|last=Petter|first=Olivia|date=July 26, 2020|title='There's Not Much I Can Do': Elon Musk Admits Grimes Does Majority Of Childcare For Two-month Old Son|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/elon-musk-son-grimes-childcare-interview-a9638321.html|work=[[The Independent]] | access-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116002628/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/elon-musk-son-grimes-childcare-interview-a9638321.html|archive-date=November 16, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
* [[Queen's University]]
| mother                    = [[Maye Musk]]
*  [[Wharton School|Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania]] (BS)}}
| relatives                = {{Plainlist|
| occupation        = {{hlist|Entrepreneur|engineer}}
* [[Tosca Musk]] (sister)
| height            = 188 cm
* [[Kimbal Musk]] (brother)
| known_for          =
* [[Lyndon Rive]] (cousin)
| networth          = [[United States dollar|US$]] 209 billion (January 2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/|title=Bloomberg Billionaires Index|website=Bloomberg|access-date=January 7, 2021}}</ref><!--This source is a daily tracker of top billionaire's net worth. Please DO NOT remove it. But feel free to update his net worth and change the reference's access date value. Thanks!-->
| title              = {{plainlist|
* Founder, CEO, Lead Designer of [[SpaceX]]
* CEO,Business Magnet, Product Architect of [[Tesla, Inc.]]
* Owner of [[Twitter]] ( not officially as of yet)
* Co-founder, CEO of [[Neuralink]]
* Founder of [[The Boring Company]]
* Co-founder of [[Zip2]]
* Founder of [[X.com]] (now [[PayPal]])
* Co-founder of [[OpenAI]]
* Chairman of [[SolarCity]]
}}
}}
| website                  =  
| years_active      = 1995–present
| signature                = Elon Musk Signature.svg
| awards            = [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] (2018)
| signature_alt            =  
| party              = [[Independent voter|Independent]]
| spouse            = {{Plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Justine Musk|Justine Wilson]]|2000|2008|reason=divorced}}
* {{marriage|[[Talulah Riley]]|2010|2012|reason=divorced}} <br> ({{abbr|m.|married}} 2013; {{abbr|div.|divorced}} 2016)
}}
}}
{{Elon Musk series}}
| partner            = [[Grimes]] (2018&ndash;2021)
'''Elon Reeve Musk''' {{postnominals|FRS}} ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|iː|l|ɒ|n}}; born June 28, 1971) is an <!--Talk page consensus is that "South African-born" or "Canadian" should not be placed in this first sentence; please leave citizenship and place of birth for later in the lead, per MOS:BLPLEAD-->entrepreneur, investor and [[business magnate]]<!-- Talk page consensus to not describe Musk as an engineer but mention his title at SpaceX -->. He is the founder, CEO and [[Chief technology officer|chief engineer]] at [[SpaceX]]; [[angel investor]]<!-- Talk page consensus is that "founder" or "co-founder" should not be placed here; see [[Talk:Elon Musk#Musk is Tesla's retroactive co-founder 🤦‍♂️]] -->, CEO and Product Architect of [[Tesla, Inc.]]; founder of [[The Boring Company]]; and co-founder of [[Neuralink]] and [[OpenAI]]. With an estimated net worth of around US$252<!-- Do not update his net worth every day – stick to once a week at most. Last updated: 27 April 2022 --> billion as of April 2022,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Elon Musk|website=[[Forbes]] | url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/elon-musk/}}</ref> Musk is the wealthiest person in the world according to both the ''[[Bloomberg Billionaires Index]]'' and the ''[[Forbes]]'' real-time billionaires list.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bloomberg Billionaires Index |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/ |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |access-date=January 17, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Real Time Billionaires |url=https://www.forbes.com/real-time-billionaires/ |website=Forbes |access-date=January 17, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
| children          = 7 (1 deceased)
 
| parents           = {{plainlist|
Musk was born to a Canadian mother and [[White South Africans|White South African]] father, and raised in [[Pretoria]], [[South Africa]]. He briefly attended the [[University of Pretoria]] before moving to [[Canada]] at age 17. He matriculated at [[Queen's University at Kingston|Queen's University]] and transferred to the [[University of Pennsylvania]] two years later, where he received a Bachelor's Degree in [[Economics]] and [[Physics]]. He moved to [[California]] in 1995 to attend [[Stanford University]] but decided instead to pursue a business career, co-founding the web software company [[Zip2]] with his brother [[Kimbal Musk|Kimbal]]. The startup was acquired by [[Compaq]] for $307 million in 1999. The same year, Musk co-founded online bank [[X.com]], which merged with [[Confinity]] in 2000 to form [[PayPal]]. The company was bought by [[eBay]] in 2002 for $1.5 billion.
* Errol Musk <small>(father)</small>
 
* [[Maye Musk]] <small>(mother)</small>
In 2002, Musk founded [[SpaceX]], an [[aerospace]] manufacturer and space transport services company, of which he is CEO and Chief Engineer. In 2004, he joined electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors, Inc. (now Tesla, Inc.) as chairman and product architect, becoming its CEO in 2008. In 2006, he helped create [[SolarCity]], a solar energy services company that was later acquired by Tesla and became [[Tesla Energy]]. In 2015, he co-founded OpenAI, a nonprofit research company that promotes [[friendly artificial intelligence]]. In 2016, he co-founded Neuralink, a [[neurotechnology]] company focused on developing [[brain–computer interface]]s, and founded The Boring Company, a [[tunnel construction]] company. He also [[Acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk|agreed to purchase]] the major American social networking service [[Twitter]] in 2022 for $44 billion. Musk has proposed the [[Hyperloop]], a high-speed [[vactrain]] transportation system.
 
Musk has been criticized for making unscientific and controversial statements. In 2018, he was sued by the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] (SEC) for falsely tweeting that he had secured funding for a private takeover of Tesla. He settled with the SEC but did not admit guilt, temporarily stepping down from his chairmanship and agreeing to limitations on his Twitter usage. In 2019, he won a defamation trial brought against him by a British caver who advised in the [[Tham Luang cave rescue]]. Musk has also been criticized for spreading [[COVID-19 misinformation|misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic]] and for [[Views of Elon Musk|his other views]] on such matters as [[artificial intelligence]], [[cryptocurrency]] and [[public transport]].
 
== Early life ==
 
=== Childhood and family ===
 
{{Further|Musk family}}
Elon Reeve Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in [[Pretoria]], South Africa.<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], pp. 25, 31.</ref> His mother is [[Maye Musk]] ({{Nee|Haldeman}}), a model and dietitian born in [[Saskatchewan]], Canada,<ref name="Biog">{{Triangulation|203|His biography author [[Ashlee Vance]]}}, discussion of his family starts around the 15th minute</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/a18205769/maye-musk-facts/|title=11 Things to Know About Stunning 69-Year-Old Model Maye Musk|last=Vargas|first=Chanel|date=March 6, 2018|website=Town & Country|access-date=March 25, 2020|archive-date=March 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307023138/https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/a18205769/maye-musk-facts/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite news|last=Usborne|first=Simon|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/shortcuts/2018/feb/21/meet-elon-musk-family|title=Meet the Musks: who's who in Elon's extended family?|date=February 21, 2018|work=[[The Guardian]] | access-date=March 25, 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=May 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527001143/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/shortcuts/2018/feb/21/meet-elon-musk-family|url-status=live}}</ref> but raised in South Africa. His father is Errol Musk, a [[White South Africans|White South African]] electromechanical engineer, pilot, sailor, consultant, and property developer who was once a half-owner of a [[Zambia]]n [[emerald]] mine near [[Lake Tanganyika]].<ref>* {{Cite web|last=May|first=Dana Hull and Patrick|title=Exploring the otherworldly ambitions of Elon Musk|url=https://buffalonews.com/business/local/exploring-the-otherworldly-ambitions-of-elon-musk/article_2fc57479-93eb-5016-b724-016b48a4f4f3.html|access-date=October 24, 2021|website=The Buffalo News|language=en}}
* {{Cite magazine|last=Friend|first=Tad|date=August 17, 2009|title=Plugged In|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/08/24/plugged-in|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308155550/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/08/24/plugged-in |archive-date=March 8, 2022 |magazine=[[The New Yorker]]}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryadolan/2015/07/02/how-to-raise-a-billionaire-an-interview-with-elon-musks-father-errol-musk/|title=How To Raise A Billionaire: An Interview With Elon Musk's Father, Errol Musk|last=Dolan|first=Kerry A.|website=Forbes|access-date=March 25, 2020|archive-date=July 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703011435/https://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryadolan/2015/07/02/how-to-raise-a-billionaire-an-interview-with-elon-musks-father-errol-musk/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Smith">{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Adam |title=50 years of Elon Musk's huge wealth, from emeralds to SpaceX and Tesla |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/elon-musk-birthday-ceo-tesla-b1874017.html |access-date=December 20, 2021 |work=The Independent |date=June 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125034322/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/elon-musk-birthday-ceo-tesla-b1874017.html |archive-date=November 25, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Musk has a younger brother, [[Kimbal Musk|Kimbal]] (born 1972), and a younger sister, [[Tosca Musk|Tosca]] (born 1974).<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite news|title=The Musk of Romance|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/tosca-musk-romance-passionflix/|access-date=September 2, 2020|issn=1059-1028|archive-date=September 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902072608/https://www.wired.com/story/tosca-musk-romance-passionflix/|url-status=live}}</ref> His maternal grandfather, Joshua Haldeman, was an adventurous American-born Canadian who took his family on record-breaking journeys in a single-engine [[Bellanca]] airplane to Africa and Australia;<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Keating |first=Joseph C. Jr.|date=September 1995|title=Joshua N Haldeman, DC: the Canadian Years, 1926–1950|newspaper=The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association|pmc=2485067}}</ref><ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], pp. 26–30</ref> Musk has British and [[Pennsylvania Dutch]] ancestry.<ref name="sjmn20140411">{{cite news|last=Hall|first=Dana|date=April 11, 2014|title=Rocket Man: The otherworldly ambitions of Elon Musk|newspaper=San Jose Mercury News|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_25541126/rocket-man-otherworldy-ambitions-elon-musk|access-date=April 14, 2014|archive-date=April 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414070701/http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_25541126/rocket-man-otherworldy-ambitions-elon-musk|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Elliott|first=Hannah|date=March 26, 2012|title=At Home With Elon Musk: The (Soon-to-Be) Bachelor Billionaire|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2012/03/26/at-home-with-elon-musk-the-soon-to-be-bachelor-billionaire/|magazine=Forbes|access-date=May 30, 2015|archive-date=May 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527053447/http://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2012/03/26/at-home-with-elon-musk-the-soon-to-be-bachelor-billionaire/|url-status=live}}</ref> When Musk was a child, his [[adenoids]] were removed because doctors suspected that he was [[deaf]], but his mother later decided that he was thinking "in another world."<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], pp. 31–32</ref> The family was very wealthy in Elon's youth; Errol Musk once said, "We had so much money at times we couldn't even close our safe".<ref name="Smith" /> After his parents divorced in 1980, Musk mostly lived with his father in Pretoria and elsewhere,<ref name=sjmn20140411 /> a choice he made two years after the divorce and subsequently regretted.<ref name=rollingstone20171115 /> Musk has become estranged from his father, whom he describes as "a terrible human being... Almost every evil thing you could possibly think of, he has done."<ref name=rollingstone20171115 /> He has a half-sister and a half-brother on his father's side.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|last1=Hull|first1=Dana|last2=May|first2=Patrick|date=April 10, 2014|title=2014: Rocket Man: The otherworldly ambitions of Elon Musk|newspaper=The Mercury News|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/04/10/2014-rocket-man-the-otherworldly-ambitions-of-elon-musk/|url-status=live|access-date=April 7, 2021|archive-date=September 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160906062154/http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_25541126/rocket-man-otherworldy-ambitions-elon-musk}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Rob|last=Crilly|title=Elon Musk's father has baby with step-daughter he has known since she was four|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/25/elon-musks-father-has-baby-step-daughter-has-known-since-four/|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|date=March 25, 2018|access-date=March 26, 2018|archive-date=April 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426231132/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/25/elon-musks-father-has-baby-step-daughter-has-known-since-four/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Elon attended an Anglican Sunday school in his youth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-interview-axel-springer-tesla-accelerate-advent-of-sustainable-energy|title=Elon Musk reveals Tesla's plan to be at the forefront of a self-driving-car revolution — and why he wants to be buried on Mars|website=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref>
 
Around age 10, Musk developed an interest in [[computing]] and [[video games]] and acquired a [[Commodore VIC-20]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Grubb|url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/04/07/how-games-helped-make-elon-musk-the-real-life-tony-stark/|title=How games helped make Elon Musk the real-life Tony Stark|website=[[VentureBeat]] | location=San Francisco|date=April 7, 2015|access-date=January 12, 2019|archive-date=March 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329150554/https://venturebeat.com/2015/04/07/how-games-helped-make-elon-musk-the-real-life-tony-stark/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], p. 38.</ref> He learned [[computer programming]] using a manual and, at age 12, sold the code of a [[BASIC]]-based video game he created called ''Blastar'' to ''PC and Office Technology'' magazine for approximately $500.<ref name="play">{{cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/6/9/8752333/elon-musk-blastar-pc-game|title=Play the PC game Elon Musk wrote as a pre-teen|last=O'Kane|first=Sean|date=June 9, 2015|work=[[The Verge]] | publisher=Vox|location=New York City|access-date=January 12, 2019|archive-date=February 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207202036/https://www.theverge.com/2015/6/9/8752333/elon-musk-blastar-pc-game|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[[#Belfiore|Belfiore (2007)]], pp. 166–95.</ref> An awkward and introverted child,<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], pp. 33–34.</ref> Musk was bullied throughout his childhood and was once hospitalized after a group of boys threw him down a flight of stairs.<ref name=rollingstone20171115 /><ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], pp. 40–41.</ref> He attended [[Waterkloof House Preparatory School]] and [[Bryanston High School]] before graduating from [[Pretoria Boys High School]].<ref name="slate20191204">{{cite news |url=https://slate.com/technology/2019/12/elon-musk-trial-pedo-guy-diver-lawsuit.html|title=Elon Musk Says "Pedo Guy" Was a Common Insult in His Youth. We Checked With His Schoolmates. |last=Mak|first=Aaron|work=Slate|date=December 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006045204/https://slate.com/technology/2019/12/elon-musk-trial-pedo-guy-diver-lawsuit.html|archive-date=October 6, 2020}}</ref>
 
=== Education ===
 
[[File:PBHS-facade.jpg|thumb|alt=An ornate school building|Musk graduated from [[Pretoria Boys High School]] in South Africa.]]
Aware that it would be easier to enter the United States from Canada,<ref name="Esquire">{{cite web|url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a16681/elon-musk-interview-1212/|title=Elon Musk: Triumph of His Will|last=Junod|first=Tom|date=November 15, 2012|website=Esquire|access-date=May 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818171231/https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a16681/elon-musk-interview-1212/|archive-date=August 18, 2020}}</ref> Musk applied for a Canadian passport through his Canadian-born mother.<ref name="arrived" /><ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], p. 44.</ref> While awaiting the documentation, he attended the [[University of Pretoria]] for five months; this allowed him to avoid mandatory service in the [[South African Defence Force|South African military]].<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], pp. 43–44.</ref> Musk arrived in Canada in June 1989, and lived with a second cousin in [[Saskatchewan]] for a year,<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], p. 45.</ref> working odd jobs at a farm and lumber-mill.<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], p. 46.</ref> In 1990, he entered [[Queen's University at Kingston|Queen's University]] in [[Kingston, Ontario]].<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], pp. 46–47.</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Locke|first=Taylor|date=December 20, 2019|title=Elon Musk's college pal: This is what 'differentiates Elon from the rest of humanity'|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/20/elon-musks-college-friend-on-why-hes-different-from-everyone-else.html|work=[[CNBC]] | access-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214162910/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/20/elon-musks-college-friend-on-why-hes-different-from-everyone-else.html|archive-date=December 14, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Two years later, he transferred to the [[University of Pennsylvania]], where he graduated in 1997 with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in physics and a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in economics.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_25541448/timeline-elon-musk-accomplishments|title=Timeline: Elon Musk's accomplishments|last=Hull|first=Dana|date=April 11, 2014|access-date=June 11, 2015|work=Mercury News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610102345/https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/04/10/timeline-elon-musks-accomplishments/|archive-date=June 10, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://csq.com/2013/01/elon-musk-patriarchs-and-prodigies/|title=Elon Musk: Patriarchs and Prodigies|year=2013|access-date=June 11, 2015|website=CSQ|publisher=C-Suite Quarterly|last=Zanerhaft|first=Jaron|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503210455/http://www.csq.com/2013/01/elon-musk-patriarchs-and-prodigies/|archive-date=May 3, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=SpaceX, founded by Penn graduate Elon Musk, launches U.S. astronauts into space|url=https://www.thedp.com/article/2020/05/penn-elon-musk-space-x-rocket-launch|last=Meisenzahl|first=Elizabeth|website=thedp.com|access-date=June 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807065913/https://www.thedp.com/article/2020/05/penn-elon-musk-space-x-rocket-launch|archive-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
 
In 1994, Musk held two internships in [[Silicon Valley]] during the summer: at energy storage startup Pinnacle Research Institute, which researched electrolytic [[ultracapacitor]]s for energy storage, and at the Palo Alto-based startup [[Rocket Science Games]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/09/how-internships-helped-elon-musk-figure-out-his-future.html|title=How internships helped Elon Musk figure out his future|website=[[CNBC]] | date=July 16, 2018|access-date=December 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228213526/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/09/how-internships-helped-elon-musk-figure-out-his-future.html|archive-date=December 28, 2019 }}</ref> In 1995, he was accepted to a [[Doctor of Philosophy]] (Ph.D.) program in [[materials science]] at [[Stanford University]] in California.<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], p. 368.</ref> Musk attempted to get a job at [[Netscape]] but never received a response to his inquiries.<ref name="arrived">{{cite news|last=Clifford|first=Catherine|date=June 12, 2018|title=Multi-billionaire Elon Musk: 'I arrived in North America at 17 with $2,000'|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/12/telsas-elon-musk-tweets-he-arrived-in-north-america-at-17-with-2000.html|work=[[CNBC]] | access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802083529/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/12/telsas-elon-musk-tweets-he-arrived-in-north-america-at-17-with-2000.html|archive-date=August 2, 2020}}</ref> He dropped out of Stanford after two days, deciding instead to join the [[Internet boom]] and launch an Internet startup.<ref>{{cite news|last=Maidment|first=Paul|date=March 15, 2016|title=7 college dropouts who made millions|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2014/11/03/college-dropouts-who-made-millions.html|work=[[CNBC]] | access-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200515143817/https://www.cnbc.com/2014/11/03/college-dropouts-who-made-millions.html|archive-date=May 15, 2020}}</ref>
 
== Business career ==
 
=== Zip2 ===
 
{{Main|Zip2}}
{{external media
| width=210px
| float=right
| video1={{YouTube|link=no|id=e7Qh-vwpYH8|title=Musk speaks of his early business experience during a 2014 commencement speech at USC}}
}}
}}
In 1995, Musk, his brother Kimbal, and Greg Kouri founded web software company [[Zip2]] with funds from [[angel investor]]s.<ref name="rollingstone20171115">{{cite news|last1=Strauss|first1=Neil|title=Elon Musk: The Architect of Tomorrow|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/elon-musk-inventors-plans-for-outer-space-cars-finding-love-w511747|access-date=November 15, 2017|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817165150/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/elon-musk-the-architect-of-tomorrow-120850/|archive-date=August 17, 2020}}</ref> They housed the venture at a small rented office in Palo Alto.<ref name="shower" /> The company developed and marketed an Internet city guide for the newspaper publishing industry, with maps, directions, and yellow pages.<ref>{{cite web |title=Entrepreneur of the Year, 2007: Elon Musk |date=December 1, 2007 |first=Max |last=Chafkin |work=Inc. |url=http://www.inc.com/magazine/20071201/entrepreneur-of-the-year-elon-musk.html |access-date=February 22, 2022|archive-date=December 28, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228171523/http://www.inc.com/magazine/20071201/entrepreneur-of-the-year-elon-musk.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Musk says that before the company became successful, he could not afford an apartment and instead rented an office and slept on the couch and showered at the [[YMCA]], and shared one computer with his brother. When he and Kimbal could not agree on business decisions, they settled their differences through wrestling.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Fox|first=Emily Jane|date=October 21, 2015 |title=How Elon Musk's Mom (and her Twin Sister) Raised the First Family of Tech |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/10/elon-musk-family-maye-musk |access-date=March 24, 2022 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}</ref> According to Musk, "The website was up during the day and I was coding it at night, seven days a week, all the time."<ref name="shower" /> The Musk brothers obtained contracts with ''[[The New York Times]]'' and the ''[[Chicago Tribune]],''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Zip2 Founder Launches 2nd Firm: Readies Financial Supersite. – Free Online Library|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Zip2+Founder+Launches+2nd+Firm:+Readies+Financial+Supersite.-a055603529|access-date=April 12, 2021|website=www.thefreelibrary.com|archive-date=April 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412062317/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Zip2+Founder+Launches+2nd+Firm:+Readies+Financial+Supersite.-a055603529|url-status=live}}</ref> and persuaded the board of directors to abandon plans for a merger with [[CitySearch]].<ref>[[#Kidder|Kidder (2013)]], pp. 224–228.</ref> Musk's attempts to become CEO, a position held by its Chairman Rich Sorkin,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cooper|first=Charles|title=CitySearch, Zip2 to merge in $300&nbsp;million deal|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/citysearch-zip2-to-merge-in-300-million-deal/|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=ZDNet|archive-date=October 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027131824/https://www.zdnet.com/article/citysearch-zip2-to-merge-in-300-million-deal/|url-status=live}}</ref> were thwarted by the board.<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], p. 67.</ref> [[Compaq]] acquired Zip2 for $307&nbsp;million in cash in February 1999,<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], p. 14.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/Compaq+buys+Zip2/2100-1023_3-221675.html |title=Compaq buys Zip2 |first=Sandeep |last=Junnarkar |website=CNET |date=February 16, 1999 |access-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-date=October 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021004422/http://news.cnet.com/Compaq+buys+Zip2/2100-1023_3-221675.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and Musk received $22&nbsp;million for his 7-percent share.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|last=Hartmans|first=Matt Weinberger, Avery|title=How billionaire Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk went from getting bullied as a child to becoming one of the most successful and provocative men in tech|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-rise-of-elon-musk-2016-7|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323155539/https://www.businessinsider.com/the-rise-of-elon-musk-2016-7|archive-date=March 23, 2020|access-date=April 3, 2020|website=Business Insider}}</ref><ref name="Vance109">[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], p. 109.</ref>
| relatives          = {{plainlist|
 
* [[Kimbal Musk]] <small>(brother)</small>
=== X.com and PayPal ===
* [[Tosca Musk]] <small>(sister)</small>
 
* [[Lyndon Rive]] <small>(cousin)</small>}}
{{Main|X.com|PayPal|PayPal Mafia}}
| signature          = Elon Musk Signature.svg
 
| signature_alt      = Elon Musk
In 1999, Musk co-founded [[X.com]], an online financial services and [[e-mail]] payment company.<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], p. 78.</ref> The startup was one of the first [[Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation|federally insured]] online banks, and, in its initial months of operation, over 200,000 customers joined the service.<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], p. 84.</ref> The company's investors regarded Musk as inexperienced and had him replaced with [[Intuit]] CEO Bill Harris by the end of the year.<ref name="vance86">[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], p. 86.</ref> The following year, X.com merged with online bank [[Confinity]] to avoid competition.<ref name="shower">{{cite news|last=Huddlestone |first=Tom Jr.|date=June 19, 2018|title=Elon Musk slept on his office couch and 'showered at the YMCA' while starting his first company|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/19/how-elon-musk-founded-zip2-with-his-brother-kimbal.html|work= CNBC|access-date=September 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818205314/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/19/how-elon-musk-founded-zip2-with-his-brother-kimbal.html|archive-date=August 18, 2020}}</ref><ref name="vance86" /><ref>[[#Jackson|Jackson (2004)]], pp. 40, 69, 130, 163.</ref> Founded by [[Max Levchin]] and [[Peter Thiel]],<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], p. 85.</ref> Confinity had its own money-transfer service, [[PayPal#History|PayPal]], which was more popular than X.com's service.<ref name=":10" /><ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], pp. 85–86.</ref> Within the merged company, Musk returned as CEO. Musk's preference for [[Microsoft]] software over [[Linux]] created a rift in the company and caused Thiel to resign.<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], pp. 86–87.</ref> Due to resulting technological issues and lack of a cohesive business model, the board ousted Musk and replaced him with Thiel in September 2000.<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], pp. 87–88.</ref>{{efn|group=note|Musk remained on the board and served as an advisor.<ref>{{cite web |title=The PayPal Mafia |url=http://fortune.com/2007/11/13/paypal-mafia/ |website=Fortune |access-date=July 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523114437/http://fortune.com/2007/11/13/paypal-mafia/|archive-date=May 23, 2017}}</ref><ref name="vance89">[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], p. 89.</ref>}} Under Thiel, the company focused on the PayPal service and was renamed PayPal in 2001.<ref name="vance89" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/86432398-4897-11e4-9d04-00144feab7de|title=Timeline: The rise of PayPal|newspaper=Financial Times|date=September 30, 2014|access-date=April 3, 2020|archive-date=June 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622163106/https://www.ft.com/content/86432398-4897-11e4-9d04-00144feab7de|url-status=live|last1=Odell|first1=Mark}}</ref> In 2002, PayPal was acquired by [[eBay]] for $1.5&nbsp;billion in stock, of which Musk—the largest [[shareholder]] with 11.72% of shares—received $175.8 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1103415/000091205702009834/a2073071z10-k405.htm |publisher=PayPal |title=SEC 10-K |date=December 31, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200825231531/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1103415/000091205702009834/a2073071z10-k405.htm|archive-date=August 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], pp. 116.</ref>
 
In 2017, Musk purchased the domain X.com from PayPal for an undisclosed amount, explaining it has sentimental value.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/1026167/elon-musk-just-bought-x-com-the-domain-he-once-owned-from-paypal/|title=Elon Musk bought a web domain worth millions with "sentimental value" to him|last=Huang|first=Echo|website=Quartz|access-date=April 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625174509/https://qz.com/1026167/elon-musk-just-bought-x-com-the-domain-he-once-owned-from-paypal/|archive-date=June 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Statt|first=Nick|date=July 10, 2017|title=Elon Musk now owns X.com, the defunct domain of his second startup|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/10/15949862/elon-musk-x-com-paypal-tesla-spacex-domain-name|work=[[The Verge]] | access-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625193958/https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/10/15949862/elon-musk-x-com-paypal-tesla-spacex-domain-name|archive-date=June 25, 2020}}</ref>
 
=== SpaceX ===
 
{{Main|SpaceX}}
[[File:SpaceX CEO Elon Musk visits N&NC and AFSPC (190416-F-ZZ999-006) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|alt=Musk, dressed in a suit, holds a metal model of the Starship|Musk explains the planned capabilities of [[SpaceX Starship]] to [[North American Aerospace Defense Command|NORAD]] and [[Air Force Space Command]] in 2019]]
In 2001, Musk became involved with the nonprofit [[Mars Society]]. He was inspired by plans to place a growth-chamber for plants on [[Mars]] and discussed funding the project himself.<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], pp. 99, 102—103.</ref> In October 2001, Musk traveled to [[Moscow]] with [[Jim Cantrell]] and [[Michael D. Griffin|Mike Griffin]] to buy refurbished [[Intercontinental ballistic missile]]s (ICBMs) that could send the greenhouse payloads into space. He met with companies [[NPO Lavochkin]] and [[Kosmotras]]; however, Musk was seen as a novice and was even spat on by one of the Russian chief designers. The group returned to the United States empty-handed. In February 2002, the group returned to Russia to look for three ICBMs. They had another meeting with Kosmotras and were offered one rocket for $8&nbsp;million, which Musk rejected. Musk instead decided to start a company that could build affordable rockets.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-elon-musk-spacex/ |title=Elon Musk's space dream almost killed Tesla |date=May 14, 2015 |access-date=June 7, 2015 |website=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]]L.P. |last=Vance |first=Ashlee |archive-date=February 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223011256/https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-elon-musk-spacex/ |url-status=live }}</ref> With $100&nbsp;million of his early fortune,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/business/yourmoney/05rocket.html |title=A Bold Plan to Go Where Men Have Gone Before |date=February 5, 2006 |first=Leslie |last=Wayne |work=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=February 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412130718/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/business/yourmoney/a-bold-plan-to-go-where-men-have-gone-before.html|archive-date=April 12, 2020}}</ref> Musk founded Space Exploration Technologies Corp., traded as [[SpaceX]], in May 2002.<ref>{{citation |title=California Business Search (C2414622 – Space Exploration Technologies Corp) |url=https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/ |access-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223134214/https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2021, he remains the company's CEO and also holds the title of Chief Engineer.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Koren |first1=Marina |title=Elon Musk Is Maybe, Actually, Strangely, Going to Do This Mars Thing |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/05/elon-musk-spacex-starship-launch/618781/ |work=The Atlantic |date=May 6, 2021}}</ref>
 
SpaceX attempted its first launch of the [[Falcon 1]] rocket in 2006,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Berger |first=Eric |title=Liftoff |publisher=[[William Morrow and Company]] | year=2021|isbn=978-0-06-297997-1|pages=178–182}}</ref> and although the rocket failed to reach [[Geocentric orbit|Earth orbit]], it was awarded a [[Commercial Orbital Transportation Services]] program contract from [[NASA]] later that year.<ref>{{cite press release |last1=Dunbar |first1=Brian |title=NASA Invests in Private Sector Space Flight with SpaceX, Rocketplane-Kistler |url=https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/news/COTS_selection.html |access-date=December 2, 2021 |work=www.nasa.gov |language=en}}</ref> After two more failed attempts, which reportedly caused Musk so much stress that he was "waking from nightmares, screaming and in physical pain,"<ref>{{Cite book|last=Berger|first=Eric|title=Liftoff|publisher=[[William Morrow and Company]] | year=2021|isbn=978-0-06-297997-1|page=216}}</ref> SpaceX succeeded in launching the Falcon 1 into orbit in 2008, making it the first private liquid-fuel rocket to do so.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ledur|first=Júlia|date=May 1, 2019|title=Falcon Flights|url=https://graphics.reuters.com/SPACE-EXPLORATION-SPACEX/010091Q82NF/index.html|work=[[Reuters]] | access-date=February 10, 2021|archive-date=February 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210212334/https://graphics.reuters.com/SPACE-EXPLORATION-SPACEX/010091Q82NF/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that year, SpaceX received a $1.6&nbsp;billion [[Commercial Resupply Services]] program contract from [[NASA]] for 12 flights of its [[Falcon 9]] rocket and [[SpaceX Dragon|Dragon spacecraft]] to the [[International Space Station]], replacing the [[Space Shuttle]] after its 2011 retirement.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chang|first=Kenneth|date=May 22, 2012|title=Big Day for a Space Entrepreneur Promising More|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/science/space/spacexs-private-cargo-rocket-heads-to-space-station.html|work=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=January 11, 2021|archive-date=July 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701083413/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/science/space/spacexs-private-cargo-rocket-heads-to-space-station.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, the Dragon vehicle berthed [[Dragon C2+|with the ISS]], a first for a private enterprise.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harwood|first=William|title=SpaceX Dragon returns to Earth, ends historic trip|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57444590/spacex-dragon-returns-to-earth-ends-historic-trip/?tag=cbsnewsSectionContent.10|work=CBS News|access-date=August 3, 2013|date=May 31, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422175931/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-dragon-returns-to-earth-ends-historic-trip/|archive-date=April 22, 2016}}</ref>
 
Working towards its goal of [[SpaceX reusable launch system development program|reusable rockets]], in 2015, SpaceX successfully landed the first stage of a Falcon 9.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35157782 |title=SpaceX rocket in historic upright landing |work=[[BBC News]] | date=December 22, 2015 |access-date=June 30, 2016 |archive-date=August 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831131922/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35157782 |url-status=live }}</ref> Landings were later achieved on an [[autonomous spaceport drone ship]], an ocean-based recovery platform.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Sean|last=O'Kane|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/5/27/11787532/spacex-falcon-9-rocket-landing-success-sea-drone-ship|title=SpaceX successfully lands a Falcon 9 rocket at sea for the third time|website=[[The Verge]] | publisher=Vox Media|location=New York City|date=May 27, 2016|access-date=June 30, 2016|archive-date=June 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627232003/http://www.theverge.com/2016/5/27/11787532/spacex-falcon-9-rocket-landing-success-sea-drone-ship|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, SpaceX launched the [[Falcon Heavy]]; the [[Falcon Heavy Test Flight|inaugural mission]] carried Musk's personal [[Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster|Tesla Roadster]] as a [[boilerplate (spaceflight)|dummy payload]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Drake|first=Nadia|date=February 25, 2018|title=Elon Musk's Tesla in Space Could Crash Into Earth|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/02/spacex-falcon-heavy-tesla-roadster-orbit-earth-sun-space/|work=National Geographic|access-date=February 10, 2021|archive-date=February 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210212336/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/02/spacex-falcon-heavy-tesla-roadster-orbit-earth-sun-space/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Chow|first=Denise|date=November 6, 2019|title='Starman' and the Tesla Roadster that SpaceX launched into orbit have now cruised beyond Mars|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/starman-tesla-roadster-spacex-launched-orbit-have-now-cruised-beyond-ncna931731|work=[[NBC News]] | access-date=February 10, 2021|archive-date=February 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210212335/https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/starman-tesla-roadster-spacex-launched-orbit-have-now-cruised-beyond-ncna931731|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, SpaceX unveiled its next-generation launch vehicle and spacecraft system, Big Falcon Rocket, later renamed to [[SpaceX Starship|Starship]], which would support all SpaceX [[launch service provider]] capabilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOpMrVnjYeY&t=29s|title=Starship Update|website=[[YouTube]] | date=September 28, 2019|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=December 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213212731/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOpMrVnjYeY&t=29s|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, SpaceX announced a planned 2023 lunar circumnavigation mission, a private flight called ''[[dearMoon project]]''.<ref name="wired20180918">{{Cite news |url=https://www.wired.com/story/spacex-will-send-yusaku-maezawa-and-artists-to-the-moon/ |title=Elon Musk Says SpaceX Will Send Yusaku Maezawa (and Artists!) to the Moon |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] | date=September 18, 2018 |access-date=May 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716034529/https://www.wired.com/story/spacex-will-send-yusaku-maezawa-and-artists-to-the-moon/ |archive-date=July 16, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2020, SpaceX launched its first crewed flight, the [[Crew Dragon Demo-2|Demo-2]], becoming the first private company to place a person into orbit and dock a crewed spacecraft with the ISS.<ref>{{Cite news|title=SpaceX and NASA launch Crew Dragon in Florida: Live updates|url=https://www.cnn.com/business/live-news/spacex-launch-today-may-30/index.html|last=Wattles|first=Jackie|date=May 30, 2020|work=[[CNN]] | access-date=May 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829112802/https://www.cnn.com/business/live-news/spacex-launch-today-may-30/index.html|archive-date=August 29, 2020}}</ref>
 
SpaceX began development of the [[Starlink]] constellation of low Earth orbit satellites in 2015 to provide [[satellite Internet access]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Eric M.|last2=Roulette|first2=Joey|date=October 31, 2018|title=Musk shakes up SpaceX in race to make satellite launch window: sources|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spacex-starlink-insight/musk-shakes-up-spacex-in-race-to-make-satellite-launch-window-sources-idUSKCN1N50FC|work=[[Reuters]] | access-date=March 28, 2021|archive-date=May 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518170500/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spacex-starlink-insight/musk-shakes-up-spacex-in-race-to-make-satellite-launch-window-sources-idUSKCN1N50FC|url-status=live}}</ref> with the first two prototype satellites launched in February 2018. A second set of test satellites and the first large deployment of a piece of the constellation occurred in May 2019, when the first 60 operational satellites were launched.<ref name="NYT-20190601">{{cite news|last=Hall|first=Shannon|title=After SpaceX Starlink Launch, a Fear of Satellites That Outnumber All Visible Stars – Images of the Starlink constellation in orbit have rattled astronomers around the world|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/01/science/starlink-spacex-astronomers.html|date=June 1, 2019|work=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=June 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821011421/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/01/science/starlink-spacex-astronomers.html|archive-date=August 21, 2020}}</ref> The total cost of the decade-long project to design, build, and deploy the constellation is estimated by SpaceX to be about $10&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shepardson|first1=David|last2=Roulette|first2=Joey|date=July 30, 2020|title=Taking on SpaceX, Amazon to invest $10 billion in satellite broadband plan|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-amazon-broadband/taking-on-spacex-amazon-to-invest-10-billion-in-satellite-broadband-plan-idUSKCN24V3F2|work=[[Reuters]] | access-date=January 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107200559/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-amazon-broadband/taking-on-spacex-amazon-to-invest-10-billion-in-satellite-broadband-plan-idUSKCN24V3F2|archive-date=January 7, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|group=note|SpaceX received nearly $900&nbsp;million in [[Federal Communications Commission]] subsidies for Starlink.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sheetz|first=Michael|date=December 7, 2020|title=SpaceX's Starlink wins nearly $900&nbsp;million in FCC subsidies to bring internet to rural areas|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/07/spacex-starlink-wins-nearly-900-million-in-fcc-subsidies-auction.html|work=[[CNBC]] | access-date=January 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216185501/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/07/spacex-starlink-wins-nearly-900-million-in-fcc-subsidies-auction.html|archive-date=December 16, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wattles|first=Jackie|date=December 8, 2020|title=SpaceX gets almost $900&nbsp;million in federal subsidies to deliver broadband to rural America|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/08/tech/spacex-starlink-subsidies-fcc-scn/index.html|work=[[CNN]] | access-date=January 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218204918/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/08/tech/spacex-starlink-subsidies-fcc-scn/index.html|archive-date=December 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
 
The company has attracted [[Starlink#Impact on astronomy|criticism]] from astronomers who say Starlink's satellites are [[Satellite flare|blocking the view]] of the skies, and from experts arguing that they risk colliding and causing dangers in space.<ref name="Griffin 2021">{{cite web | last=Griffin | first=Andrew | title=Elon Musk rejects criticism that his satellite fleet is dangerous | website=The Independent | date=December 30, 2021 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/elon-musk-spacex-starlink-nasa-b1984423.html | access-date=December 31, 2021}}</ref><ref name="BBC News 2021">{{cite web | title=Elon Musk rejects claims that his satellites are hogging space | website=BBC News | date=December 30, 2021 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59824404 | access-date=December 31, 2021}}</ref> Musk rejected the criticism, stating that the impact of satellites is "nothing" and that "space is just extremely enormous, and satellites are very tiny."<ref name="Griffin 2021" />
 
=== Tesla ===
 
{{Main|Tesla, Inc.}}
[[File:Elon Musk, Tesla Factory, Fremont (CA, USA) (8765031426).jpg|alt=Musks stands, arms crossed and grinning, before a Tesla Model S|thumb|Musk next to a [[Tesla Model S]] at the [[Tesla Fremont Factory]] in 2011|right]]
Tesla, Inc.—originally Tesla Motors—was incorporated in July 2003 by [[Martin Eberhard]] and [[Marc Tarpenning]], who financed the company until the [[Series A round]] of funding.<ref>{{cite news|last=Burns |first=Matt|url=https://techcrunch.com/gallery/a-brief-history-of-tesla |title=A Brief History of Tesla |date=October 8, 2014 |access-date=June 11, 2015|work=TechCrunch|archive-date=March 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306225331/https://techcrunch.com/gallery/a-brief-history-of-tesla/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Both men played active roles in the company's early development prior to Musk's involvement.<ref name="From Archive.org-7620615">{{cite web |url=http://www.marketbusinessnews.com/tesla-motors/12064 |title=Tesla Motors Inc. – Company Information |publisher=Market Business News |date=February 12, 2014 |access-date=April 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212093533/http://www.marketbusinessnews.com/tesla-motors/12064 |archive-date=February 12, 2014 |url-status=dead |first=Joseph |last=Nordqvist}}</ref> Musk led the Series A round of investment in February 2004; he invested $6.5 million, became the majority shareholder, and joined Tesla's board of directors as chairman.<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], pp. 153–154.</ref><ref name="TechCrunchBriefHistory">{{Cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/gallery/a-brief-history-of-tesla/ |title=A Brief History of Tesla |date=October 8, 2014 |access-date=July 17, 2015 |work=TechCrunch|last=Burns |first=Matt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717064829/https://techcrunch.com/gallery/a-brief-history-of-tesla/#/slide2 |archive-date=July 17, 2015 |quote="Tesla was founded not by Elon Musk, but rather by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning in July 2003. The two bootstrapped the fledgling auto company until Elon Musk led the company's US$7.5&nbsp;million Series A financing round in February 2004."}}</ref> Musk took an active role within the company and oversaw [[Tesla Roadster (2008)|Roadster]] product design but was not deeply involved in day-to-day business operations.<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], p. 159.</ref> Following a series of escalating conflicts in 2007 and the [[Financial crisis of 2007–2008|2008 financial crisis]], Eberhard was ousted from the firm.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book|title=Quirky: The remarkable story of the traits, foibles, and genius of breakthrough innovators who changed the world|last=Schilling|first=Melissa|publisher=PublicAffairs|year=2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Morrison |date=October 15, 2008 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/external/venturebeat/2008/10/15/15venturebeat-elon-musk-steps-in-as-ceo-at-tesla-lays-off-99182.html |title=Musk steps in as CEO |work=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-date=February 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204120521/http://www.nytimes.com/external/venturebeat/2008/10/15/15venturebeat-elon-musk-steps-in-as-ceo-at-tesla-lays-off-99182.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Musk assumed leadership of the company as CEO and product architect in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 13, 2020|title=Elon Musk: The Story of a Maverick|url=https://interestingengineering.com/elon-musk-the-story-of-a-maverick|access-date=April 3, 2021|website=interestingengineering.com|archive-date=March 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316052411/https://interestingengineering.com/elon-musk-the-story-of-a-maverick|url-status=live}}</ref> A 2009 lawsuit settlement with Eberhard designated Musk as a Tesla co-founder, along with Tarpenning and two others.<ref name=CNET>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/tesla-motors-founders-now-there-are-five/ |title=Tesla Motors founders: Now there are five|last=LaMonica|first=Martin |website=CNET|date=September 2009|access-date=April 17, 2020|quote=Tesla Motors and co-founder Martin Eberhard announced an agreement over who can claim to be a founder of the company on Monday.}}</ref><ref name=FastCompany>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1367866/tesla-lawsuit-drama-ends-five-company-founders-emerge|title=Tesla Lawsuit Drama Ends as Five Company Founders Emerge |last=Schwartz |first=Ariel |date=September 21, 2009|website=Fast Company|access-date=April 14, 2020|quote=Eberhard and Musk have reached a rather unexpected resolution–instead of agreeing to share the title of "founder", the pair has designated five people as company founders, including Musk, Eberhard, JB Straubel, Mark Tarpenning, and Ian Wright.}}</ref> As of 2019, Elon Musk was the longest tenured CEO of any automotive manufacturer globally.<ref name="auto6">{{cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/industry-shift-four-departures-longest-190424759.html|title=Industry Shift: With Four Departures This Year, Who Is The Longest-Tenured Automotive CEO?|first=Dave|last=Royse|website=Yahoo|date= July 8, 2019}}</ref> In 2021, Musk nominally changed his title to Technoking while retaining his position as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shead|first=Sam|date=March 15, 2021|title=Elon Musk has officially been made the 'Technoking of Tesla'|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/15/elon-musk-officially-made-the-technoking-of-tesla.html|access-date=January 28, 2022|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref>
 
Tesla first built an electric sports car, the Roadster, in 2008. With sales of about 2,500 vehicles, it was the first [[serial production]] all-electric car to use [[lithium-ion battery]] cells.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wilson|first=Kevin A.|date=March 15, 2018|title=Worth the Watt: A Brief History of the Electric Car, 1830 to Present|url=https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g15378765/worth-the-watt-a-brief-history-of-the-electric-car-1830-to-present|access-date=March 30, 2021|website=Car and Driver|archive-date=March 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317062346/https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g15378765/worth-the-watt-a-brief-history-of-the-electric-car-1830-to-present/|url-status=live}}</ref> Tesla began delivery of its four-door [[Tesla Model S|Model&nbsp;S]] sedan in 2012;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20919722/silicon-valley-milestone-tesla-motors-begins-delivering-model?refresh=no |title=In a Silicon Valley milestone, Tesla Motors begins delivering Model S electric cars |first=John |last=Boudreau |work=[[San Jose Mercury News]] | date=June 22, 2012 |access-date=June 22, 2012 |archive-date=November 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124040454/http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20919722/silicon-valley-milestone-tesla-motors-begins-delivering-model?refresh=no |url-status=live }}</ref> a cross-over, the [[Tesla Model X|Model X]] was launched in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/sep/30/tesla-model-x-electric-car-launch-falcon-wings-suv |title=Tesla's Model X electric car spreads falcon wings at U.S. launch |last=Ruddick |first=Graham |website=[[The Guardian]] | date=September 30, 2015 |access-date=November 4, 2015 |archive-date=June 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602175211/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/sep/30/tesla-model-x-electric-car-launch-falcon-wings-suv |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2015/03/19/tesla-model-x |title=Tesla Model X: Not a model launch |website=Fortune |access-date=November 4, 2015 |archive-date=November 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112072458/http://fortune.com/2015/03/19/tesla-model-x/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A mass market sedan, the [[Tesla Model 3|Model 3]], was released in 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last=Vlasic|first=Bill|date=July 29, 2017|title=In Pivotal Moment, Tesla Unveils Its First Mass-Market Sedan|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/29/business/tesla-model-3-elon-musk.html|work=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=February 9, 2021|archive-date=February 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209235116/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/29/business/tesla-model-3-elon-musk.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Gibbs|first=Samuel|date=July 31, 2017|title=Tesla Model 3 doesn't have a key – and seven other things we learned|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jul/31/tesla-model-3-electric-car-doesnt-have-key-things-we-learned-speedometer-battery-sleep|work=[[The Guardian]] | access-date=February 9, 2021|archive-date=February 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209235345/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jul/31/tesla-model-3-electric-car-doesnt-have-key-things-we-learned-speedometer-battery-sleep|url-status=live}}</ref> The Model 3 is the all-time best-selling plug-in electric car worldwide, and, in June 2021, became the first electric car to sell 1&nbsp;million units globally.<ref name=1miModel3>{{cite web|url=https://cleantechnica.com/2021/08/26/tesla-model-3-has-passed-1-million-sales/ |title=Tesla Model 3 Has Passed 1 Million Sales |first=Zachary |last=Shahan |publisher=CleanTechnica |date=August 26, 2021 |access-date=August 26, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Model3TopEV">{{cite news |url=https://cleantechnica.com/2020/03/10/tesla-passes-1-million-ev-milestone-and-model-3-becomes-all-time-best-seller/ |title=Tesla Passes 1 Million EV Milestone & Model 3 Becomes All Time Best Seller |first=Maximilian |last=Holland |website=CleanTechnica |date=March 10, 2020 |access-date=April 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412045911/https://cleantechnica.com/2020/03/10/tesla-passes-1-million-ev-milestone-and-model-3-becomes-all-time-best-seller/ |archive-date=April 12, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> A fifth vehicle, the [[Tesla Model Y|Model Y]] crossover, was launched in 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|last=O'Kane|first=Sean|date=March 16, 2020|title=Tesla Model Y deliveries begin in the US|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/16/21182033/tesla-model-y-suv-us-deliveries-begin-price-range|work=[[The Verge]] | access-date=February 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317145544/https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/16/21182033/tesla-model-y-suv-us-deliveries-begin-price-range|archive-date=March 17, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Tesla Cybertruck|Cybertruck]], an all-electric pickup truck, was unveiled in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Huddleston|first=Tom Jr.|date=November 22, 2019|title=This is the James Bond sports car Elon Musk bought for nearly $1&nbsp;million that inspired Tesla Cybertruck|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/22/james-bond-lotus-sports-car-elon-musk-bought-inspired-tesla-cybertruck.html|access-date=September 19, 2020|website=[[CNBC]] | archive-date=November 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127225950/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/22/james-bond-lotus-sports-car-elon-musk-bought-inspired-tesla-cybertruck.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Under Musk, Tesla has also constructed multiple lithium-ion battery and electric vehicle factories, such as [[Gigafactory 1]] in Nevada, [[Gigafactory 3]] in China, [[Gigafactory 4]] in Germany and [[Gigafactory 5]] in Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/s/526126/does-musks-gigafactory-make-sense/|title=Does Musk's Gigafactory Make Sense?|date=April 14, 2019|access-date=December 7, 2019|archive-date=December 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213213443/https://www.technologyreview.com/2014/04/14/173399/does-musks-gigafactory-make-sense/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2016/07/27/inside-teslas-gigafactory-a-crazy-idea-takes-shape-in-nevada/#72b566f94d9b|title=Inside Tesla's Gigafactory: A Crazy Idea Takes Shape In Nevada|website=[[Forbes]] | date=July 27, 2016|access-date=December 7, 2019|archive-date=December 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228142401/https://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2016/07/27/inside-teslas-gigafactory-a-crazy-idea-takes-shape-in-nevada/#72b566f94d9b|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/teslas-musk-shanghai-factory-breaking-ground-60204858|title=Tesla's Musk says Shanghai factory breaking ground|agency=ABC news|date=January 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803133155/https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/teslas-musk-shanghai-factory-breaking-ground-60204858|archive-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Carlson |first1=Kara |title=Inside Elon's big, weird Austin party: Music, robots — and even a petting zoo |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/business/2022/04/07/tesla-fans-show-up-cyber-rodeo-celebration-austin/9504356002/ |access-date=9 April 2022 |publisher=Austin American-Statesman |date=7 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/tesla-opens-giga-berlin-factory-in-germany/av-61210668|title=Tesla opens Giga Berlin factory in Germany|website=dw.com|date=March 22, 2022|language=en|access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref>
 
[[File:2019-06-11-tesla-shareholder-meeting-elon-musk.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Musk at the 2019 [[Tesla Inc.|Tesla]] annual shareholder meeting]]
Since its [[initial public offering]] in 2010,<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=June 28, 2010|title=With First Share Offering, Tesla Bets on Electric Car's Future|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/business/28tesla.html|work=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=February 9, 2021|archive-date=February 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210000410/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/business/28tesla.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Tesla stock has risen significantly; it became the most valuable carmaker in summer 2020,<ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|date=July 1, 2020|title=Tesla overtakes Toyota to become world's most valuable carmaker|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53257933|work=[[BBC News]] | access-date=February 9, 2021|archive-date=February 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210000414/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53257933|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Boudette|first=Neal E.|date=July 2, 2020|title=Tesla Shines During the Pandemic as Other Automakers Struggle|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/02/business/tesla-sales-second-quarter.html|work=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=February 9, 2021|archive-date=February 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210000501/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/02/business/tesla-sales-second-quarter.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and it entered the [[S&P 500]] later that year.<ref>{{cite news|last=Li|first=Yun|date=December 20, 2021|title=Tesla shares fall 6% as it enters the S&P 500 with 1.69% weighting, fifth largest|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/20/tesla-enters-the-sp-500-with-1point69percent-weighting-in-the-benchmark-fifth-largest.html|work=[[CNBC]] | access-date=February 9, 2021|archive-date=February 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210000314/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/20/tesla-enters-the-sp-500-with-1point69percent-weighting-in-the-benchmark-fifth-largest.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=December 21, 2020|title=Tesla Stock Joins the S&P 500: A Game Changer|url=https://www.wsj.com/graphics/tesla-stock-joins-the-sp500/|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=February 9, 2021|archive-date=February 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210000316/https://www.wsj.com/graphics/tesla-stock-joins-the-sp500/|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2021 it reached a market capitalization of $1 trillion, the sixth company to do so in U.S. history.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Chris Isidore|title=Tesla is now worth more than $1trillion|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/25/investing/tesla-stock-trillion-dollar-market-cap/index.html|access-date=November 14, 2021|website=CNN}}</ref> On November 6, 2021, Musk proposed on [[Twitter]] selling 10% of his Tesla stock, since "much is made lately of unrealized gains being a means of tax avoidance".<ref name=":13" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Elon Musk Twitter profile|url=https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1457064697782489088|url-status=live|access-date=November 14, 2021|website=Twitter|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106192343/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1457064697782489088 |archive-date=November 6, 2021 }}</ref> After more than 3.5 million Twitter accounts supported the sale, Musk sold $6.9&nbsp;billion of Tesla stock in the week ending November 12,<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|last=Haselton|first=Todd|date=November 13, 2021|title=Elon Musk sold about $6.9 billion in Tesla stock this week|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/13/elon-musk-sells-another-1point2-billion-of-tesla-stock.html|access-date=November 15, 2021|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref> and a total of $16.4&nbsp;billion by year end, reaching the 10% target.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Tesla's Musk exercises all of his stock options expiring next year| url=https://www.reuters.com/business/teslas-musk-completes-option-related-sales-plan-filing-2021-12-29/| last=Jin| first=Hyunjoo| website=Reuters| date=December 30, 2021| language=en}}</ref> In February 2022, ''The Wall Street Journal'' reported that both Elon and Kimbal Musk were under investigation by the SEC for possible insider trading related to the sale.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Michaels |first=Dave |date=February 24, 2022 |title=WSJ News Exclusive {{!}} SEC Probes Trading by Elon Musk and Brother in Wake of Tesla CEO's Sales |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sec-probes-trading-by-elon-musk-and-brother-in-wake-of-tesla-ceos-sales-11645730528 |access-date=March 3, 2022 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>
 
==== SEC lawsuit ====
 
In September 2018, Musk was [[Tesla, Inc.#Ongoing lawsuits|sued]] by the SEC<ref>{{Cite web|title=SEC.gov {{!}} Elon Musk Charged With Securities Fraud for Misleading Tweets|url=https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2018-219|access-date=February 1, 2022|website=www.sec.gov}}</ref> for a [[Twitter#Tweets|tweet]] claiming funding had been secured for potentially taking Tesla [[Privately held company|private]].<ref name="Goldstein_27-9-18" />{{efn|group=note|Musk stated he was considering taking Tesla private at a price of $420 a share, an alleged reference to [[Cannabis (drug)|marijuana]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Choudhury|first=Saheli Roy|date=September 28, 2018|title=SEC says Musk chose $420 price for Tesla shares because it's a pot reference|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/28/sec-says-elon-musk-at-tesla-chose-420-price-as-pot-reference.html|access-date=September 17, 2020|website=[[CNBC]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006010407/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/28/sec-says-elon-musk-at-tesla-chose-420-price-as-pot-reference.html|archive-date=October 6, 2020}}</ref> Members of Tesla's board and rapper [[Azealia Banks]] alleged that Musk may have been under the influence of recreational drugs when he wrote the tweet.<ref>{{cite news|last=Swisher|first=Kara|date=August 23, 2018|title=How and Why Silicon Valley Gets High|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/opinion/elon-musk-burning-man-drugs-lsd.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824014428/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/opinion/elon-musk-burning-man-drugs-lsd.html |archive-date=August 24, 2018 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=May 11, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Woodyard|first=Chris|date=August 30, 2018|title=Elon Musk's tweet on taking Tesla private now dogged by drugs claim from rapper Azealia Banks|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2018/08/22/elon-musks-tweet-taking-tesla-private-now-dogged-drugs-claims-rapper-azealia-banks/1057815002/|work=USA Today|access-date=May 11, 2021}}</ref>}} The lawsuit characterized the tweet as false, misleading, and damaging to investors, and sought to bar Musk from serving as CEO of [[Public company|publicly traded companies]].<ref name="Goldstein_27-9-18">{{cite news |last=Goldstein|first=Matthew|title=S.E.C. Sues Tesla's Elon Musk for Fraud and Seeks to Bar Him From Running a Public Company |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/27/business/elon-musk-sec-lawsuit-tesla.html|access-date=September 27, 2018|work=[[The New York Times]] | date=September 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623023744/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/27/business/elon-musk-sec-lawsuit-tesla.html|archive-date=June 23, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Patnaik|first1=Subrat|last2=Kalia|first2=Shubham|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-musk-factbox/factbox-funding-secured-sec-gives-timeline-surrounding-tweet-from-teslas-musk-idUSKCN1M8139|title=Factbox – 'Funding secured': SEC gives timeline surrounding tweet from Tesla's Musk|work=[[Reuters]] | date=September 28, 2018|access-date=November 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123175743/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-musk-factbox/factbox-funding-secured-sec-gives-timeline-surrounding-tweet-from-teslas-musk-idUSKCN1M8139|archive-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref><ref name="OkaneLopatto18">{{cite news |last1=O'Kane|first1=Sean|last2=Lopatto|first2=Elizabeth|title=Elon Musk sued by SEC for securities fraud |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/27/17911428/sec-lawsuit-elon-musk-tesla-funding-tweet|access-date=September 27, 2018 |work=[[The Verge]] | date=September 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730025451/https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/27/17911428/sec-lawsuit-elon-musk-tesla-funding-tweet|archive-date=July 30, 2020}}</ref> Two days later, Musk settled with the SEC, without admitting or denying the SEC's allegations. As a result, Musk and Tesla were fined $20&nbsp;million each, and Musk was forced to step down for three years as Tesla chairman but was able to remain as CEO.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/29/17918252/elon-musk-tesla-sec-securities-fraud-lawsuit-settlement-fine-penalty|title=Elon Musk forced to step down as chairman of Tesla, remains CEO|work=[[The Verge]] | access-date=September 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527131445/https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/29/17918252/elon-musk-tesla-sec-securities-fraud-lawsuit-settlement-fine-penalty|archive-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=SEC.gov {{!}} Elon Musk Settles SEC Fraud Charges; Tesla Charged With and Resolves Securities Law Charge|url=https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2018-226|access-date=February 1, 2022|website=www.sec.gov}}</ref>
 
Musk has stated in interviews he does not regret posting the tweet that triggered the SEC investigation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-musk-tweet-idUSKCN1N10K2|title=Tesla's Elon Musk says tweet that led to $20&nbsp;million fine 'Worth It'|date=October 27, 2018|work=[[Reuters]] | access-date=December 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522093710/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-musk-tweet-idUSKCN1N10K2|archive-date=May 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Youn|first1=Soo|last2=Katersky|first2=Aaron|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/elon-musk-commits-sec-settlement-mocking-tweets/story?id=58437587|title=Elon Musk commits to SEC settlement despite mocking tweets|date=October 11, 2018|work=ABC News|access-date=October 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023054443/https://abcnews.go.com/Business/elon-musk-commits-sec-settlement-mocking-tweets/story?id=58437587|archive-date=October 23, 2019}}</ref> On February 19, 2019, Musk stated in a tweet that Tesla would build half a&nbsp;million cars in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2019/02/25/elon-musks-tesla-tweet-puts-ceo-role-at-risk-again/|title=Elon Musk's Tesla Tweet Puts CEO Role At Risk Again|last=Ohnsman|first=Alan|website=Forbes|access-date=February 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528012956/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2019/02/25/elon-musks-tesla-tweet-puts-ceo-role-at-risk-again/|archive-date=May 28, 2020}}</ref> The SEC reacted to Musk's tweet by filing in court, initially asking the court to hold him in contempt for violating the terms of a settlement agreement with such a tweet, which was disputed by Musk. This was eventually settled by a joint agreement between Musk and the SEC clarifying the previous agreement details.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/26/tech/elon-musk-sec-settlement/index.html|title=Elon Musk and SEC reach an agreement over tweeting|first=Jackie|last=Wattles|website=[[CNN]] Business|access-date=July 16, 2019|date=April 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608013859/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/26/tech/elon-musk-sec-settlement/index.html|archive-date=June 8, 2020}}</ref> The agreement included a list of topics that Musk would need preclearance before tweeting about.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-sec-settlement-list-51556317578?mod=article_inline|title=Tesla CEO Elon Musk Gets a Long Do-Not-Tweet List From the SEC|last1=Marino-Nachison|first1=David|date=April 26, 2019|work=Barrons|access-date=November 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122145614/https://www.barrons.com/articles/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-sec-settlement-list-51556317578?mod=article_inline|archive-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref> In May 2020, a judge prevented a lawsuit from proceeding that claimed a tweet by Musk regarding Tesla stock price ("too high [[List of acronyms: I#IMO|imo]]") violated the agreement.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bursztynsky|first=Jessica|date=May 1, 2020|title=Tesla shares tank after Elon Musk tweets the stock price is 'too high'|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/01/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-says-stock-price-is-too-high-shares-fall.html|access-date=June 14, 2020|website=[[CNBC]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818102755/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/01/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-says-stock-price-is-too-high-shares-fall.html|archive-date=August 18, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=May 20, 2020|title=Court Rules That No One Can Stop Elon Musk From Tweeting Tesla News—For Now|url=https://observer.com/2020/05/tesla-shareholder-lawsuit-stop-elon-musk-tweeting-on-hold/|access-date=December 1, 2020|website=Observer|archive-date=October 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030161912/https://observer.com/2020/05/tesla-shareholder-lawsuit-stop-elon-musk-tweeting-on-hold/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Freedom of Information Act (United States)|FOIA]] released records showing that the SEC itself concluded Musk has subsequently violated the agreement twice by tweeting regarding "Tesla's solar roof production volumes and its stock price".<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Elliott|first1=Dave |last2=Michaels |first2=Rebecca|date=June 2, 2021|title=WSJ News Exclusive: Tesla Failed to Oversee Elon Musk's Tweets, SEC Argued in Letters|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tesla-failed-to-oversee-elon-musk-s-tweets-sec-argued-in-letters-11622582765|access-date=June 10, 2021|issn=0099-9660}}</ref>
 
=== SolarCity and Tesla Energy ===
{{Main|SolarCity|Tesla Energy}}
[[File:Pair of 2009 SolarCity Dodge Sprinters.JPG|thumb|alt=Two green vans sporting the SolarCity logo|[[SolarCity]] solar-panel installation vans in 2009]]
Musk provided the initial concept and financial capital for [[SolarCity]], which his cousins [[Lyndon Rive|Lyndon]] and Peter Rive co-founded in 2006.<ref name="Kanellos">{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Kanellos|date=February 15, 2008|title=Newsmaker: Elon Musk on rockets, sports cars, and solar power|url=http://news.cnet.com/Elon-Musk-on-rockets,-sports-cars,-and-solar-power---page-2/2008-11389_3-6230661-2.html|work=CNET|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=January 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129063308/http://news.cnet.com/Elon-Musk-on-rockets,-sports-cars,-and-solar-power---page-2/2008-11389_3-6230661-2.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> By 2013, SolarCity was the second largest provider of solar power systems in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/top-250-solar-contractors |title=2013 Top 250 Solar Contractors |work=Solar Power World |date=September 13, 2013 |access-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-date=October 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010112825/https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/top-250-solar-contractors/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, Musk promoted the idea of SolarCity building an advanced production facility in [[Buffalo, New York]], triple the size of the largest solar plant in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2014/06/17/news/companies/solarcity-silevo |title=Elon Musk's sunny plans for Buffalo |last=Smith |first=Aaron |publisher=[[CNNMoney]] | date=June 17, 2014 |access-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-date=October 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009194551/http://money.cnn.com/2014/06/17/news/companies/solarcity-silevo |url-status=live }}</ref> Construction on the [[Gigafactory 2|factory]] started in 2014 and was completed in 2017. It operated as a joint venture with [[Panasonic]] until early 2020 when Panasonic departed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kolodny|first=Lora|date=February 26, 2020|title=Tesla, Panasonic will reportedly stop joint solar cell production at Gigafactory 2 in Buffalo|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/26/tesla-panasonic-said-to-end-joint-solar-cell-production-at-buffalo-factory.html|work=[[CNBC]] | access-date=September 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808130532/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/26/tesla-panasonic-said-to-end-joint-solar-cell-production-at-buffalo-factory.html|archive-date=August 8, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The highs, lows and legacy of Panasonic's doomed project in Buffalo|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2020/11/23/leaders-of-doomed-panasonic-project-look-back.html|url-status=live|access-date=April 3, 2021|website=www.bizjournals.com|archive-date=November 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123121014/https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2020/11/23/leaders-of-doomed-panasonic-project-look-back.html}}</ref>
 
Tesla acquired SolarCity for over $2&nbsp;billion in 2016 and merged it with its battery energy storage products division to create [[Tesla Energy]].
 
=== Neuralink ===
 
{{Main|Neuralink}}
[[File:Elon Musk and the Neuralink Future.jpg|thumb|alt=Musk standing next to bulky medical equipment on a stage|Musk discussing a [[Neuralink]] device during a live demonstration in 2020|left]]
In 2016, Musk co-founded Neuralink, a [[neurotechnology]] startup company to integrate the human brain with [[artificial intelligence]] (AI) by creating devices that are embedded in the human brain to facilitate its merging with machines. The devices will also reconcile with the latest improvements in artificial intelligence to stay updated. Such improvements could enhance memory or allow the devices to communicate with software more effectively.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/27/15077864/elon-musk-neuralink-brain-computer-interface-ai-cyborgs |title=Elon Musk launches Neuralink, a venture to merge the human brain with AI |date=March 27, 2017 |website=[[The Verge]] | access-date=April 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803182502/https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/27/15077864/elon-musk-neuralink-brain-computer-interface-ai-cyborgs|archive-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Winkler|first=Rolfe|date=March 27, 2017|title=Elon Musk Launches Neuralink to Connect Brains With Computers|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-launches-neuralink-to-connect-brains-with-computers-1490642652|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=October 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002205615/https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-launches-neuralink-to-connect-brains-with-computers-1490642652|archive-date=October 2, 2020}}</ref>
 
At a live demonstration in August 2020, Musk described one of their early devices as "a Fitbit in your skull" that could soon cure paralysis, deafness, blindness, and other disabilities. Many neuroscientists and publications criticized these claims;<ref name="mit" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Cellan-Jones|first=Rory|date=September 1, 2020|title=Is Elon Musk over-hyping his brain-hacking Neuralink tech?|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53987919|work=[[BBC News]] | access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912010226/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53987919|archive-date=September 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rogers|first=Adam|date=September 4, 2020|title=Neuralink Is Impressive Tech, Wrapped in Musk Hype|url=https://www.wired.com/story/neuralink-is-impressive-tech-wrapped-in-musk-hype/|magazine=Wired|access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906074207/https://www.wired.com/story/neuralink-is-impressive-tech-wrapped-in-musk-hype/|archive-date=September 6, 2020}}</ref> ''[[MIT Technology Review]]'' described them as "highly speculative" and "neuroscience theater".<ref name="mit">{{cite news|last=Regalado|first=Antonio|date=August 30, 2020|title=Elon Musk's Neuralink is neuroscience theater|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/08/30/1007786/elon-musks-neuralink-demo-update-neuroscience-theater/|work=MIT Technology Review|access-date=September 3, 2020|archive-date=December 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213224951/https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/08/30/1007786/elon-musks-neuralink-demo-update-neuroscience-theater/|url-status=live}}</ref> On the other hand, biomedical engineer Peter Bannister has defended Musk’s sci-fi–inspired rhetorical overreach as inspirational for aspiring engineers and scientists.<ref>Morris, David. [https://fortune.com/2020/08/31/neurolink-elon-musk-neurology-brain-implant-pigs/amp/ “Neurologists aren’t so sure about Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain implant startup”], [[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] (31 Aug 2020).</ref>
 
=== The Boring Company ===
 
{{Main|The Boring Company}}
[[File:Elon Musk Accelerates the Boring (45716125474).jpg|thumb|alt=Musk speaks to a crowd of journalists. Behind him is a lighted tunnel.|Musk during the 2018 inauguration of the [[Boring Test Tunnel]] in [[Hawthorne, California]]]]
In 2016, Musk founded [[The Boring Company]] to construct tunnels.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 18, 2021|title=The Not So Dull Future Of The Boring Company|url=https://www.hotcars.com/the-not-so-dull-future-boring-company/|access-date=April 3, 2021|website=HotCars|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320001216/https://www.hotcars.com/the-not-so-dull-future-boring-company/|url-status=live}}</ref> In early 2017, the company began discussions with [[regulatory agency|regulatory bodies]] and initiated construction of a {{convert|30|ft|adj=on}} wide, {{convert|50|ft|adj=on}} long, and {{convert|15|ft|adj=on}} deep "test trench" on the premises of SpaceX's offices as it required no permits.<ref name="boring">{{Cite news |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/elon-musk-tunnel-boring |title=Elon Musk's boring machine has already built a 'test trench' in LA |last=Heathman |first=Amelia |magazine=Wired UK |access-date=February 19, 2017 |archive-date=July 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718214211/http://www.wired.co.uk/article/elon-musk-tunnel-boring |url-status=live }}</ref> A tunnel beneath the [[Las Vegas Convention Center]] was completed in early 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 20, 2021|title=Boring Co. underground loop to be put to the test|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/tourism/boring-co-underground-loop-to-be-put-to-the-test-2358258/|access-date=May 29, 2021|website=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}</ref> Local officials have approved further expansions of the tunnel system.<ref>{{cite news|last=McBride|first=Sarah|date=December 16, 2020|title=Elon Musk's Proposed Vegas Strip Transit System Advanced by City Council Vote|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-16/the-boring-company-las-vegas-loop-projects-eyes-major-expansion|work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] | access-date=January 8, 2021|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111092533/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-16/the-boring-company-las-vegas-loop-projects-eyes-major-expansion|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
As a merchandising and publicity stunt, The Boring Company sold 2,000 novelty [[flamethrowers]] in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Flamethrower – The Boring Company|url=https://www.boringcompany.com/flamethrower|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129102013/https://www.boringcompany.com/flamethrower|archive-date=January 29, 2018|access-date=January 29, 2018|website=boringcompany.com|publisher=boringcompany.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=January 28, 2018|title=Elon Musk's Boring Company is now raising money by selling flamethrowers|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/01/28/news/musk-boring-company-flamethrowers/index.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129131619/https://money.cnn.com/2018/01/28/news/musk-boring-company-flamethrowers/index.html|archive-date=January 29, 2018|access-date=January 29, 2018|publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> The idea, and his fascination with the idea of a flamethrower in general, was inspired by the [[Mel Brooks]]-directed film ''[[Spaceballs]]'' (1987), something confirmed in the [[documentary film]] ''[[Return to Space]]'', directed by [[Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi]] and [[Jimmy Chin]].<ref>{{cite web|date=December 4, 2017|title=Elon Musk Loves This '80s Comedy So Much He Keeps Dropping Hidden Quotes|url=https://www.inverse.com/article/38990-elon-musk-loves-this-80s-comedy-so-much-he-keeps-dropping-hidden-quotes|access-date=June 4, 2020|archive-date=June 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604105620/https://www.inverse.com/article/38990-elon-musk-loves-this-80s-comedy-so-much-he-keeps-dropping-hidden-quotes|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kooser|first=Amanda|date=January 26, 2018|title=Can you crack the password for Elon Musk's flamethrower?|work=Cnet|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/boring-company-flamethrower-elon-musk-hats-spaceballs-password/|access-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317130337/https://www.cnet.com/news/boring-company-flamethrower-elon-musk-hats-spaceballs-password/|archive-date=March 17, 2020}}</ref>
 
=== Managerial style and treatment of employees ===
 
{{See also|Criticism of Tesla, Inc.#Workplace culture issues}}
Musk's managerial style and treatment of his employees have been heavily criticized.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Charles|last=Duhigg|date=December 13, 2018|title=Dr. Elon & Mr. Musk: Life Inside Tesla's Production Hell|url=https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-tesla-life-inside-gigafactory/|magazine=WIRED|access-date=April 25, 2021|archive-date=March 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321221557/https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-tesla-life-inside-gigafactory/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite magazine|author=Bilton|first=Nick|date=November 10, 2020|title=Elon Musk's Totally Awful, Batshit-Crazy, Completely Bonkers, Most Excellent Year|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/11/elon-musks-totally-awful-batshit-crazy-most-excellent-year|url-status=live|magazine=Vanity Fair|access-date=April 25, 2021|archive-date=January 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129145435/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/11/elon-musks-totally-awful-batshit-crazy-most-excellent-year}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/report-elon-musk-is-kind-of-a-dick-1845645538|website=Gizmodo|title=Report: Elon Musk Is Kind of a Dick|first=Tom|last=Mckay|date=November 11, 2020|access-date=April 25, 2021|archive-date=April 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419185215/https://gizmodo.com/report-elon-musk-is-kind-of-a-dick-1845645538|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], p. 147, "Elon's worst trait by far, in my opinion, is a complete lack of loyalty or human connection. Many of us worked tirelessly for him for years and were tossed to the curb like a piece of litter without a second thought. Maybe it was calculated to keep the rest of the workforce on their toes and scared; maybe he was just able to detach from human connection to a remarkable degree. What was clear is that people who worked for him were like ammunition: used for a specific purpose until exhausted and discarded.".</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/working-with-elon-musk-tesla-2015-5|title=Why Tesla employees fear Elon Musk, as told by one of the company's cofounders|website=Business Insider|date=May 16, 2015|first=Lisa|last=Eadicicco|access-date=April 25, 2021|archive-date=April 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422121154/https://www.businessinsider.com/working-with-elon-musk-tesla-2015-5|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jun/13/tesla-workers-pay-price-elon-musk-failed-promises|author=Julia Carrie Wong|title=Tesla workers say they pay the price for Elon Musk's big promises|website=[[The Guardian]] | date=June 13, 2018|quote=The CEO is known for outsized claims and ambitious goals. But numerous factory workers say he doesn't follow through – and that his leadership sets a troubling tone.|access-date=April 25, 2021|archive-date=March 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323064114/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jun/13/tesla-workers-pay-price-elon-musk-failed-promises|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Business Insider]]'' reported that Tesla employees were told not to walk past Musk's desk because of his "wild firing rampages".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-reportedly-terrified-tesla-staff-with-his-firing-sprees-2018-12?r=US&IR=T|title=Tesla employees were reportedly told not to walk past Elon Musk's desk because of his wild firing rampages|quote=One Gigafactory manager told Wired that they had stopped employees from walking too close to Musk's desk for fear that a word out of place might end up in their getting fired. The manager called the outbursts "Elon's rage firings."|website=Business Insider|date=December 13, 2018|author=Isobel Asher Hamilton|access-date=April 25, 2021|archive-date=April 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410133229/https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-reportedly-terrified-tesla-staff-with-his-firing-sprees-2018-12?r=US&IR=T|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' reported that, after Musk insisted on branding his vehicles as "self-driving", he faced criticism from his engineers, some of whom resigned in response, with one stating that Musk's "reckless decision making... ha[d] potentially put customer lives at risk".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dugan|first1=Ianthe Jeanne|last2=Spector|first2=Mike|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/teslas-push-to-build-a-self-driving-car-sparks-dissent-among-its-engineers-1503593742|title=Tesla's Push to Build a Self-Driving Car Sparked Dissent Among Its Engineers|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=August 24, 2017|access-date=April 25, 2021|archive-date=April 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416123205/https://www.wsj.com/articles/teslas-push-to-build-a-self-driving-car-sparks-dissent-among-its-engineers-1503593742|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2021 book ''[[Power Play (book)|Power Play]]'' contains multiple anecdotes of Musk berating employees.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mitchell|first=Charlie|title=Sweary tirades and abrupt firings under Elon Musk, new book claims|newspaper=[[The Times]] | url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sweary-tirades-and-abrupt-firings-under-musk-book-claims-05k9mm526|access-date=August 6, 2021|issn=0140-0460}}</ref>
 
== Other activities ==
 
=== Hyperloop ===
 
{{Main|Hyperloop|Hyperloop pod competition}}
In 2013, Musk announced plans for a version of a [[vactrain]] (or vacuum tube train), assigning a dozen engineers from [[Tesla Inc.|Tesla]] and [[SpaceX]] to establish the conceptual foundations and create initial designs.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Hyperloop Update: Elon Musk Will Start Developing It Himself|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2013/08/12/latest-update-elon-musk-will-start-the-hyperloop-himself/#5143db7047a8|url-status=live|magazine=Forbes.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929001211/https://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2013/08/12/latest-update-elon-musk-will-start-the-hyperloop-himself/#5143db7047a8|archive-date=September 29, 2017|access-date=March 22, 2016}}</ref> On August 12, 2013, Musk unveiled the concept, which he dubbed the Hyperloop.<ref name="gm20130822">{{cite web |url=http://www.gizmag.com/hyperloop-musk-analysis/28672 |title=Beyond the hype of Hyperloop: An analysis of Elon Musk's proposed transit system |website=Gizmag.com |date=August 22, 2013 |access-date=August 23, 2013 |archive-date=July 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710223815/http://www.gizmag.com/hyperloop-musk-analysis/28672/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The alpha design for the system was published in a [[whitepaper]] posted to the Tesla and SpaceX blogs.<ref>{{cite arXiv|last1=Kirschen|first1=Philippe|last2=Burnell|first2=Edward|date=April 6, 2021|title=Hyperloop System Optimization|class=cs.CE|eprint=2104.03907}}</ref> The document scoped out the technology and outlined a notional route where such a transport system could be built between the [[Greater Los Angeles Area]] and the [[San Francisco Bay Area]] at an estimated total cost of $6&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-08-12/revealed-elon-musk-explains-the-hyperloop |title=Revealed: Elon Musk Explains the Hyperloop, the Solar-Powered High-Speed Future of Inter-City Transportation |first=Ashlee |last=Vance |author-link=Ashlee Vance |website=[[Bloomberg BusinessWeek]] | date=August 12, 2013 |access-date=April 27, 2016 |archive-date=January 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127202031/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-08-12/revealed-elon-musk-explains-the-hyperloop |url-status=live }}</ref> The proposal, if technologically feasible at the costs he has cited, would make Hyperloop travel cheaper than any other [[mode of transport]] for such long distances.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ranger|first=Steve|title=What is Hyperloop? Everything you need to know about the race for super-fast travel|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-is-hyperloop-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-future-of-transport/|access-date=September 19, 2020|website=ZDNet|archive-date=October 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030113256/https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-is-hyperloop-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-future-of-transport/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
In June 2015, Musk announced a [[incentive prize competition|design competition]] for students and others to build Hyperloop pods to operate on a SpaceX-sponsored mile-long track in a 2015–2017 [[Hyperloop pod competition]]. The track was used in January 2017, and Musk also announced that the company started a tunnel project with Hawthorne airport as its destination.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dailybulletin.com/science/20170129/hyperloop-competition-brings-new-mass-transit-technology-to-life-in-hawthorne |title=Hyperloop competition brings new mass-transit technology to life in Hawthorne |last=Mazza |first=Sandy |date=January 29, 2017 |publisher=Daily Bulletin |access-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-date=August 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816010537/http://www.dailybulletin.com/science/20170129/hyperloop-competition-brings-new-mass-transit-technology-to-life-in-hawthorne |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2017, Musk claimed that he had received "verbal government approval" to build a hyperloop from [[New York City]] to [[Washington, D.C.]], stopping in both [[Philadelphia]] and [[Baltimore]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/07/20/538328487/elon-musk-says-he-has-verbal-ok-to-build-n-y-d-c-hyperloop |title=Elon Musk Says He Has 'Verbal' OK To Build N.Y.-D.C. Hyperloop|work=NPR.org|access-date=July 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831023519/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/07/20/538328487/elon-musk-says-he-has-verbal-ok-to-build-n-y-d-c-hyperloop|archive-date=August 31, 2020}}</ref> Mention of the project for the DC to Baltimore part were removed from the Boring Company website later in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Elon Musk's Boring Company removes D.C.-Baltimore tunnel from list of projects on website|language=en-US|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/elon-musk-hyperloop/2021/04/16/b340314e-9edd-11eb-9d05-ae06f4529ece_story.html|access-date=August 14, 2021|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
 
=== OpenAI ===
 
{{Main|OpenAI}}
In December 2015, Musk announced the creation of [[OpenAI]], a not-for-profit [[artificial intelligence]] (AI) research company aiming to develop [[artificial general intelligence]] intended to be safe and beneficial to humanity.<ref name="NYT_AI">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/12/science/artificial-intelligence-research-center-is-founded-by-silicon-valley-investors.html |title=Artificial-Intelligence Research Center Is Founded by Silicon Valley Investors|first=John|last=Markoff |date=December 11, 2015 |work=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=December 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830184433/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/12/science/artificial-intelligence-research-center-is-founded-by-silicon-valley-investors.html|archive-date=August 30, 2020}}</ref> A particular focus of the company is to "counteract large corporations [and governments] who may gain too much power by owning super-intelligence systems".<ref name="levy20151215">{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/backchannel/how-elon-musk-and-y-combinator-plan-to-stop-computers-from-taking-over-17e0e27dd02a|title=How Elon Musk and Y Combinator Plan to Stop Computers From Taking Over|first=Steven|last=Levy|date=December 11, 2015|publisher=[[Backchannel (blog)|Backchannel]] on [[Medium (website)|Medium]] | access-date=December 15, 2015|archive-date=March 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306005208/https://medium.com/backchannel/how-elon-musk-and-y-combinator-plan-to-stop-computers-from-taking-over-17e0e27dd02a|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="rollingstone20171115" /> In 2018, Musk left the OpenAI board to avoid possible future conflicts with his role as CEO of Tesla as the company increasingly became involved in AI through [[Tesla Autopilot]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Novet|first=Jordan|date=February 2, 2018|title=Elon Musk, who has sounded the alarm on AI, leaves the organization he co-founded to make it safer|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/21/elon-musk-is-leaving-the-board-of-openai.html|work=[[CNBC]] | access-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830162809/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/21/elon-musk-is-leaving-the-board-of-openai.html|archive-date=August 30, 2020}}</ref>
 
=== Tham Luang cave rescue and defamation case ===
 
{{Further|Tham Luang cave rescue}}
[[File:Rescue equipment in Tham Luang entrance chamber (cropped).jpg|alt=Supplies and people inside a cave|thumb|Rescue personnel and equipment at the cave entrance]]
In July 2018, Musk arranged for his employees to build a small [[rescue pod]] to assist the [[Tham Luang cave rescue|rescue]] of children stuck in a flooded cavern in [[Thailand]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44735412|title=Elon Musk offers to help Thai cave rescue|last=Jordan|first=Dearbail|date=July 6, 2018|work=[[BBC News]] | access-date=October 25, 2018|archive-date=October 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025160141/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44735412|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Rick Stanton|Richard Stanton]], leader of the international rescue diving team, urged Musk to facilitate the construction of a mini-submarine as a back-up, in case flooding worsened.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1016684366083190785|title=Richard Stanton email correspondence|website=Twitter|access-date=July 19, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718112856/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1016684366083190785|archive-date=July 18, 2018}}</ref> Named "Wild Boar" after the children's soccer team,<ref>{{cite news|last=Browne|first=Ryan|date=July 10, 2018|title=Elon Musk takes submarine to Thai cave, but rescue chief reportedly calls it 'not practical'|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/10/elon-musk-takes-submarine-to-thailands-tham-luang--cave.html|work=[[CNBC]] | access-date=September 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523062543/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/10/elon-musk-takes-submarine-to-thailands-tham-luang--cave.html|archive-date=May 23, 2020}}</ref> its design was a {{convert|5|ft|spell=in|adj=on}}-long, {{convert|12|in|adj=on|cm}}-wide sealed tube weighing about {{convert|90|lbs}} propelled manually by divers in the front and back with segmented compartments to place [[Diving weighting system|diver weights]] to adjust buoyancy,<ref name="auto5">{{cite web|date=July 8, 2018|title=Tested for Thailand, SpaceX's makeshift mini-sub could serve as space escape pod|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/tested-thailand-spacexs-makeshift-mini-sub-serve-space-escape-pod/|access-date=December 7, 2019|website=GeekWire.com|archive-date=December 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207165300/https://www.geekwire.com/2018/tested-thailand-spacexs-makeshift-mini-sub-serve-space-escape-pod/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-says-hes-building-a-tiny-submarine-to-rescue-1827422516|title=Elon Musk Says He's Building a Tiny 'Submarine' to Rescue Thai Soccer Team Trapped in Cave|last=McKay|first=Tom|work=Gizmodo|access-date=August 28, 2018|archive-date=August 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828134725/https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-says-hes-building-a-tiny-submarine-to-rescue-1827422516|url-status=live}}</ref> intended to solve the problem of safely extracting the children. Engineers at SpaceX and The Boring Company built the mini-submarine out of a [[Falcon 9]] liquid oxygen transfer tube<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ferris|first1=Robert|date=July 10, 2018|title=Elon Musk says his 'mini-submarine' can be used for other things|publisher=[[CNBC]] | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/10/elon-musk-says-his-mini-submarine-can-be-used-for-other-things.html|access-date=July 13, 2018|archive-date=July 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713075037/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/10/elon-musk-says-his-mini-submarine-can-be-used-for-other-things.html|url-status=live}}</ref> in eight hours and personally delivered it to Thailand.<ref name="auto5" /> By this time, however, eight of the 12 children had already been rescued using full face masks and oxygen under anesthesia; consequently Thai authorities declined to use the submarine.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lee|first=Timothy B.|date=July 10, 2018|title=Thai official: Elon Musk's submarine "not practical for this mission" [Updated]|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/07/thai-official-elon-musks-submarine-not-practical-for-this-mission/|access-date=September 13, 2020|website=Ars Technica|archive-date=September 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919045304/https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/07/thai-official-elon-musks-submarine-not-practical-for-this-mission/|url-status=live}}</ref> Elon Musk was later one of the 187 people who received various honors conferred by the [[Vajiralongkorn|King of Thailand]] in March 2019 for involvement in the rescue effort, e.g. the [[Order of the Direkgunabhorn]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKCN1RV0QU?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406193250/https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKCN1RV0QU?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews|archive-date=April 6, 2020|title=Thai king confers awards on two Australian divers for rescue of cave boys|date=April 19, 2019|access-date=September 23, 2019|work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=[[Government of Thailand|รัฐบาลไทย]] | date=March 21, 2019 |title=ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์อันเป็นที่สรรเสริญยิ่งดิเรกคุณาภรณ์ให้แก่บุคคลที่ช่วยเหลือผู้ประสบภัยในถ้ำหลวง วนอุทยานถ้ำหลวง-ขุนน้ำนางนอน จังหวัดเชียงราย |url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2562/B/007/T_0001.PDF |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409170014/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2562/B/007/T_0001.PDF |archive-date=April 9, 2022 |journal=[[Royal Thai Government Gazette|ราชกิจจานุเบกษา]] | language=th |access-date=September 23, 2019}}</ref>
 
Vernon Unsworth, a British recreational caver who had been exploring the cave for the previous six years and played a key advisory role in the rescue, criticized the submarine on [[CNN]] as amounting to nothing more than a public relations effort with no chance of success, and that Musk "had no conception of what the cave passage was like" and "can stick his submarine where it hurts". Musk asserted on Twitter that the device would have worked and referred to Unsworth as "pedo guy".<ref name="Levin18">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/15/elon-musk-british-diver-thai-cave-rescue-pedo-twitter|title=Elon Musk calls British diver in Thai cave rescue a 'pedo' in baseless attack|last1=Levin|first1=Sam|date=July 15, 2018|work=[[The Guardian]] | location=London|access-date=July 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803133851/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/15/elon-musk-british-diver-thai-cave-rescue-pedo-twitter|archive-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref> He subsequently deleted the tweets, along with an earlier tweet in which he told another critic of the device, "Stay tuned jackass."<ref name="Levin18" /> On July 16, Unsworth stated that he was considering legal action.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-44846945|title=British caver 'could sue' Elon Musk|date=July 16, 2018|work=[[BBC News]] | access-date=July 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624152041/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-44846945|archive-date=June 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/16/british-diver-in-thai-cave-rescue-stunned-after-attack-by-elon-musk|title=British cave diver considering legal action over Elon Musk's 'pedo' attack|last1=Safi|first1=Michael|date=July 16, 2018|work=[[The Guardian]] | access-date=July 16, 2018|last2=Levin|first2=Sam|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803151555/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/16/british-diver-in-thai-cave-rescue-stunned-after-attack-by-elon-musk|archive-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref>
 
Two days later, Musk issued an apology for his remarks.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/18/elon-musk-apologizes-to-british-cave-diver-followingbaseless-pedo-gu.html|title=Elon Musk apologizes to British cave diver following baseless 'pedo guy' claim|last=Browne|first=Ryan|date=July 18, 2020|work=[[CNBC]] | access-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805083128/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/18/elon-musk-apologizes-to-british-cave-diver-followingbaseless-pedo-gu.html|archive-date=August 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/elon-musk-apologises-for-calling-thai-rescue-diver-a-pedo/news-story/606b3fc050064b9b5d39b7db133a46f1|title=Elon Musk apologises for calling Thai rescue diver a 'pedo'|last=Chang|first=Charis|date=July 18, 2018|website=news.com.au|access-date=July 18, 2018|archive-date=July 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718075838/https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/elon-musk-apologises-for-calling-thai-rescue-diver-a-pedo/news-story/606b3fc050064b9b5d39b7db133a46f1|url-status=live}}</ref> Then, on August 28, 2018, in response to criticism from a writer on Twitter, Musk tweeted, "You don't think it's strange he hasn't sued me?"<ref>{{cite news|last=Krisher|first=Tom|date=September 17, 2018|title=Diver who helped with Thai cave rescue sues Elon Musk|url=https://apnews.com/article/4f4ddea4fa0c43ae984447fae85cf644|work=Associated Press|access-date=October 10, 2020|archive-date=January 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114201422/https://apnews.com/article/4f4ddea4fa0c43ae984447fae85cf644|url-status=live}}</ref> The following day, a letter dated August 6 from [[L.&nbsp;Lin Wood]], the rescuer's attorney, emerged, showing that he had been making preparations for a libel lawsuit.<ref name="Castillo18">{{cite news|last1=Castillo|first1=Michelle |title=Cave explorer Elon Musk called a 'pedo guy' is preparing a lawsuit|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/29/cave-explorer-elon-musk-called-a-pedo-guy-is-preparing-a-lawsuit.html |access-date=August 29, 2018|work=[[CNBC]] | date=August 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805085855/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/29/cave-explorer-elon-musk-called-a-pedo-guy-is-preparing-a-lawsuit.html|archive-date=August 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wattles|first=Jackie|date=August 29, 2018|title=Lawyer: We're 'finalizing' a libel lawsuit against Elon Musk over 'pedo' tweet|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/08/29/news/elon-musk-libel-lawsuit-vern-unsworth/index.html|work=[[CNN]] Money|access-date=October 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222171455/https://money.cnn.com/2018/08/29/news/elon-musk-libel-lawsuit-vern-unsworth/index.html|archive-date=February 22, 2020}}</ref>
 
Around this time, James Howard-Higgins emailed Musk claiming to be a private investigator and with an offer to "dig deep" into Unsworth's past, which Musk accepted; Higgins was later revealed to be a convicted felon with multiple counts of fraud.<ref>{{cite news|last=Marshall|first=Aarian|date=October 8, 2019|title=Elon Musk's Mouth, and Tweets, Land Him in Trouble Again|url=https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musks-mouth-tweets-trouble-again/|magazine=Wired|access-date=October 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926164709/https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musks-mouth-tweets-trouble-again/|archive-date=September 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=McNamara|first=Audrey|date=October 3, 2019|title=Elon Musk Hired PI With a Criminal Record to Investigate Cave Rescuer He Called a 'Pedo Guy': Report|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/elon-musk-hired-pi-with-a-criminal-record-to-investigate-cave-rescuer-he-called-a-pedo-guy-report|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=October 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206223714/http://www.thedailybeast.com/elon-musk-hired-pi-with-a-criminal-record-to-investigate-cave-rescuer-he-called-a-pedo-guy-report|archive-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref> On August 30, using details produced during the alleged investigation,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/musk-says-calling-diver-pedo-was-not-an-accusation-of-pedophilia/a-50465948|title=Musk says calling diver 'pedo' was not an accusation of pedophilia|date=September 17, 2019|website=Deutsche Welle|access-date=September 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803234156/https://www.dw.com/en/musk-says-calling-diver-pedo-was-not-an-accusation-of-pedophilia/a-50465948|archive-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref> Musk sent a ''[[BuzzFeed News]]'' reporter who had written about the controversy an email prefaced with "[[Off the record (journalism)|off the record]]", telling the reporter to "stop defending child rapists, you fucking asshole" and claiming that Unsworth is a "single white guy from England who's been traveling to or living in Thailand for 30 to 40 years... until moving to [[Chiang Rai]] for a child bride who was about 12 years old at the time." On September 5, the reporter tweeted a screenshot of the email, saying that "Off the record is a two-party agreement," which he "did not agree to."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Levin|first1=Sam|title=Elon Musk calls Thailand diver 'child rapist' in latest baseless attack|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/sep/04/elon-musk-claims-diver-in-thai-cave-rescue-is-child-rapist-without-evidence|access-date=September 5, 2018|newspaper=[[The Guardian]] | date=September 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803183406/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/sep/04/elon-musk-claims-diver-in-thai-cave-rescue-is-child-rapist-without-evidence|archive-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mac |first1=Ryan |last2=Di Stefano |first2=Mark |last3=Paczkowski |first3=John |title=In A New Email, Elon Musk Accused A Cave Rescuer Of Being A "Child Rapist" And Said He "Hopes" There's A Lawsuit |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/elon-musk-thai-cave-rescuer-accusations-buzzfeed-email |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802102350/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/elon-musk-thai-cave-rescuer-accusations-buzzfeed-email |archive-date=August 2, 2020|access-date=March 22, 2021 |work=Buzzfeed News |date=September 4, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Elon Musk Spent a Weird 4 Hours Defending His 'Pedo Guy' Tweet in Federal Court|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/7x55zx/elon-musk-spent-a-weird-4-hours-defending-his-pedo-guy-tweet-in-federal-court|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=www.vice.com|archive-date=April 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426204245/https://www.vice.com/en/article/7x55zx/elon-musk-spent-a-weird-4-hours-defending-his-pedo-guy-tweet-in-federal-court|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
In September, Unsworth filed a defamation suit in Los Angeles federal court.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45551895|title=Elon Musk sued for libel by British Thai cave rescuer|date=September 17, 2018|publisher=[[BBC News]] | access-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526061535/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45551895|archive-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rawlinson|first=Kevin|date=September 17, 2018|title=British diver sues Elon Musk for $75,000 over 'pedo' claim|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/sep/17/british-diver-vernon-unsworth-sues-elon-musk-over-pedo-claim|work=[[The Guardian]] | location=London|access-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702155615/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/sep/17/british-diver-vernon-unsworth-sues-elon-musk-over-pedo-claim|archive-date=July 2, 2020}}</ref> In his defense, Musk argued that in slang usage "'pedo guy' was a common insult used in South Africa when I was growing up... synonymous with 'creepy old man' and is used to insult a person's appearance and demeanor."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://slate.com/technology/2019/12/elon-musk-trial-pedo-guy-diver-lawsuit.html|title=Elon Musk Says "Pedo Guy" Was a Common Insult in His Youth. We Checked With His Schoolmates|first=Aaron|last=Mak|date=December 4, 2019|access-date=December 7, 2019|work=Slate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902032802/https://slate.com/technology/2019/12/elon-musk-trial-pedo-guy-diver-lawsuit.html|archive-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref> The defamation case began in December 2019, with Unsworth seeking $190&nbsp;million in damages.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/dec/04/elon-musk-pedo-guy-insult-was-not-classy-but-not-meant-literally|title=Elon Musk: pedo guy insult was 'not classy' but not meant literally|first=Julia Carrie|last=Wong|date=December 4, 2019|work=[[The Guardian]] | location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803181508/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/06/unsworth-vs-musk-pedo-guy-defamation-trial-verdict.html|archive-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref> During the trial Musk apologized to Unsworth again for the tweet. On December 6, the jury found in favor of Musk and ruled he was not liable.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/06/unsworth-vs-musk-pedo-guy-defamation-trial-verdict.html|title=Elon Musk found not liable in 'pedo guy' defamation trial|first=lora|last=Kolodny|date=May 10, 2019|website=[[CNBC]] | access-date=December 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803181508/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/06/unsworth-vs-musk-pedo-guy-defamation-trial-verdict.html|archive-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Groom|first1=Nichola|last2=Parsons|first2=Rachel|date=December 6, 2019|title=Tesla boss Elon Musk wins defamation trial over his 'pedo guy' tweet|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-musk-lawsuit/tesla-boss-elon-musk-wins-defamation-trial-over-his-pedo-guy-tweet-idUSKBN1YA13U|work=[[Reuters]] | access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603035638/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-musk-lawsuit/tesla-boss-elon-musk-wins-defamation-trial-over-his-pedo-guy-tweet-idUSKBN1YA13U|archive-date=June 3, 2020}}</ref>
 
=== 2018 Joe Rogan podcast appearance ===
 
On September 6, 2018, Musk appeared on ''[[The Joe Rogan Experience]]'' podcast and discussed various topics for over two hours. During the interview, Musk sampled a single puff from a cigar consisting, [[Joe Rogan]] claimed, of tobacco laced with cannabis. Tesla stock dropped after the incident, which coincided with the confirmation of the departure of Tesla's vice president of worldwide finance earlier that day.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Tesla exodus: Another executive exits as Elon Musk struggles to build mainstream automaker|work=USA Today|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2018/09/12/yet-another-finance-executive-leaving-tesla/1284197002/|access-date=September 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200825055548/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2018/09/12/yet-another-finance-executive-leaving-tesla/1284197002/|archive-date=August 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Stewart|first=Emily|date=September 8, 2018|title=Elon Musk's week of pot smoking and wild emails, explained|url=https://www.vox.com/business-and-finance/2018/9/8/17834910/elon-musk-joe-rogan-podcast-tesla-stock|work=Vox|access-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805184350/https://www.vox.com/business-and-finance/2018/9/8/17834910/elon-musk-joe-rogan-podcast-tesla-stock|archive-date=August 5, 2020}}</ref> ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' wondered if the cannabis use could have ramifications for SpaceX contracts with the [[United States Air Force]], though an Air Force spokesperson told ''[[The Verge]]'' that there was no investigation and that the Air Force was still processing the situation.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Elon Musk's Pot-Smoking Podcast Appearance Could Open an Air Force Investigation into SpaceX|work=Fortune|url=http://fortune.com/2018/09/10/musk-weed-marijuana-air-force-spacex/|access-date=September 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906071044/https://fortune.com/2018/09/10/musk-weed-marijuana-air-force-spacex/|archive-date=September 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=The Air Force is determining 'the appropriate process' for Elon Musk smoking pot|work=[[The Verge]] | url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/7/17833208/elon-musk-air-force-pot-smoking-investigation|access-date=September 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200825132601/https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/7/17833208/elon-musk-air-force-pot-smoking-investigation|archive-date=August 25, 2020}}</ref> In a ''[[60 Minutes]]'' interview, Musk said of the incident: "I do not smoke pot. As anybody who watched that podcast could tell, I have no idea how to smoke pot."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Donaghey|first=River|date=December 7, 2018|title=Elon Musk Has 'No Idea' How to Smoke Weed, Says Elon Musk|url=https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/xwj5pa/elon-musk-weed-i-have-no-idea-how-to-smoke-pot-vgtrn|access-date=March 21, 2019|website=Vice|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511115320/https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/xwj5pa/elon-musk-weed-i-have-no-idea-how-to-smoke-pot-vgtrn|archive-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Gottsegen|first=Gordon|date=December 7, 2018|title=Despite infamous hit, Elon Musk says he has 'no idea how to smoke pot'|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/despite-infamous-hit-elon-musk-says-he-has-no-idea-how-to-smoke-pot/|work=Cnet|access-date=September 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119015057/https://www.cnet.com/news/despite-infamous-hit-elon-musk-says-he-has-no-idea-how-to-smoke-pot/|archive-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref>
 
=== Music ventures ===
 
On March 30, 2019, Musk released a [[rap music|rap]] track, "RIP Harambe", on [[SoundCloud]] as Emo G Records. The track, which is an allusion to the killing of [[Harambe]], a gorilla in a Cincinnati zoo, and the subsequent "tasteless" [[Viral phenomenon|Internet sensationalism]] surrounding the event, was performed by Yung Jake, written by Yung Jake and [[Caroline Polachek]], and produced by [[BloodPop]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Arcand |first1=Rob |url=https://www.spin.com/2019/03/elon-musk-drops-rap-single-rip-harambe/ |title=Elon Musk Drops Surprise Rap Single "RIP Harambe" |date=March 31, 2019 |magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] | access-date=April 1, 2019 |archive-date=April 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401021823/https://www.spin.com/2019/03/elon-musk-drops-rap-single-rip-harambe/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Fitzgerald">{{cite magazine |last1=Fitzgerald |first1=Trent |title=Elon Musk Randomly Shares Rap Song Dedicated to Harambe |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2019/03/elon-musk-rap-song-harambe/ |access-date=April 10, 2019 |magazine=[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]] | date=March 31, 2019 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403145015/https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2019/03/elon-musk-rap-song-harambe/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 30, 2020, Musk released an [[Electronic dance music|EDM]] track, "Don't Doubt Ur Vibe", featuring his own lyrics and vocals.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://social.techcrunch.com/2020/01/31/elon-musk-just-dropped-an-edm-track-on-soundcloud/|title=Elon Musk just dropped an EDM track on SoundCloud|website=TechCrunch|access-date=February 3, 2020|archive-date=April 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426204232/https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/31/elon-musk-just-dropped-an-edm-track-on-soundcloud/|url-status=live}}</ref> While ''[[The Guardian]]'' critic [[Alexis Petridis|Alexi Petridis]] described it as "indistinguishable... from umpteen competent but unthrilling bits of bedroom electronica posted elsewhere on Soundcloud",<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jan/31/elon-musk-edm-artist-first-track-dont-doubt-ur-vibe|title=Elon Musk's new EDM single reviewed – 'Bringing erectile dysfunction to the masses!'|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|date=January 31, 2020|work=[[The Guardian]] | access-date=February 3, 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621190025/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jan/31/elon-musk-edm-artist-first-track-dont-doubt-ur-vibe|archive-date=June 21, 2020}}</ref> [[TechCrunch]] said it was "not a bad representation of the genre".<ref name=":5" />
 
=== Donations and non-profits ===
 
In 2012, Musk took the [[The Giving Pledge|Giving Pledge]], thereby committing to give the majority of [[Elon Musk#Wealth|his wealth]] to charitable causes either during his lifetimes or in his will.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pledge Signatories|url=https://givingpledge.org/pledgers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109225231/https://givingpledge.org/pledgers|archive-date=January 9, 2022|access-date=January 30, 2022|website=The Giving Pledge}}</ref> In 2014, Musk donated $1 million dollars to a museum dedicated to Nikola Tesla.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elon Musk Donates $1 Million to New Tesla Museum |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/innovation/elon-musk-donates-1-million-new-tesla-museum-n152946 |access-date=April 21, 2022 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> In 2020, ''Forbes'' gave Musk a philanthropy score of 1, because he had given away less than 1% of his net worth.<ref name="charity" /> In November 2021, Musk donated $5.7 billion of Tesla's shares to charity.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Elon Musk Makes Biggest Donation in History|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-15/elon-musk-donated-5-7-billion-of-tesla-shares-to-charity|access-date=February 15, 2022|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=February 15, 2022}}</ref> He has endowed prizes at the [[X Prize Foundation]], including $15{{nbsp}}million to encourage innovation in addressing illiteracy and $100{{nbsp}}million to reward improved [[Carbon sequestration|carbon capture]] technology.<ref>{{cite news|last=Feloni|first=Richard|date=March 21, 2018|title=Silicon Valley could help the last people you'd expect — and Elon Musk has given $15&nbsp;million to a contest that will prove it|work=Business Insider|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-peter-diamandis-xprize-eliminate-illiteracy-2018-3|access-date=September 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519175629/https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-peter-diamandis-xprize-eliminate-illiteracy-2018-3|archive-date=May 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Popken|first=Ben|date=January 22, 2021|title=Elon Musk to donate sliver of net worth for carbon capture|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/elon-musk-donate-sliver-net-worth-carbon-capture-n1255402|work=[[NBC News]] | access-date=February 7, 2021|archive-date=February 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205183120/https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/elon-musk-donate-sliver-net-worth-carbon-capture-n1255402|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Clifford|first=Catherine|date=January 22, 2021|title=Elon Musk is donating a $100&nbsp;million prize for carbon capture technology — here's what that means|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/22/elon-musk-tweets-donating-prize-for-carbon-capture.html|work=[[CNBC]] | access-date=February 7, 2021|archive-date=February 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208021855/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/22/elon-musk-tweets-donating-prize-for-carbon-capture.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Chappell |first1=Bill |title=Elon Musk Funds $100 Million XPrize For Pursuit Of New Carbon Removal Ideas |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/02/08/965372754/elon-musk-funds-100-million-xprize-for-pursuit-of-new-carbon-removal-ideas |access-date=February 8, 2022 |work=NPR |date=February 8, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> After the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], Musk facilitated sending Starlink systems purchased by other European nations and private funding to Ukraine for internet access and communication in the besieged country.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=March 22, 2022 |title=Elon Musk's SpaceX sent thousands of Starlink satellite internet dishes to Ukraine, company's president says |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/22/elon-musk-spacex-thousands-of-starlink-satellite-dishes-sent-to-ukraine.html |access-date=March 28, 2022 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> Ukrainian president [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] thanked Musk personally for the support of Ukraine and announced further talks between the two about space projects to take place after the war.<ref name="Ukraine-12">{{Cite web |author=Ivana Saric |date=March 6, 2022 |title=Zelensky thanks Elon Musk for sending Starlink satellites to Ukraine |url=https://www.axios.com/zelensky-elon-musk-starlink-ukraine-a007ee15-7713-44e0-b677-e6c9e9d11d8e.html |access-date=March 22, 2022 |work=[[Axios (website)|Axios]]}}</ref><ref name="Ukraine-22">{{Cite web |author=Zoe Tidman |date=March 6, 2022 |title=Ukraine's Zelensky thanks Elon Musk for sending Starlink systems |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-zelensky-elon-musk-starlink-b2029650.html |access-date=March 22, 2022 |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>
 
==== Musk Foundation ====
 
Musk is president of the Musk Foundation,<ref>{{cite web|title=Musk Foundation |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/770587507|url-status=live|website=ProPublica|date=May 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210000223/https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/770587507 |archive-date=February 10, 2022 }}</ref> which states its purpose is to provide solar-power energy systems in disaster areas as well as to support research and development, advocacy, and educational goals.<ref name=":12">{{cite news|last=Harris|first=Mark|date=January 23, 2019|title=How Elon Musk's secretive foundation hands out his billions|work=[[The Guardian]] | location=London|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/23/how-elon-musks-secretive-foundation-benefits-his-own-family#img-1|access-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728130757/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/23/how-elon-musks-secretive-foundation-benefits-his-own-family|archive-date=July 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.muskfoundation.org/|title=Musk Foundation|website=muskfoundation.org|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=November 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121012101/http://muskfoundation.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> Since 2002, the foundation has made over 350 contributions. Around half were to scientific research or education nonprofits. Notable beneficiaries include the [[Wikimedia Foundation]], his alma mater the University of Pennsylvania, and Kimbal's [[Big Green (non-profit company)|Big Green]].<ref name="charity">{{cite news|last=Cuccinello|first=Hayley C.|date=September 8, 2020|title=Elon Musk Has Promised To Give At Least Half His Fortune To Charity. Here's How Much He's Donated So Far|work=Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hayleycuccinello/2020/09/08/elon-musk-has-promised-to-give-at-least-half-his-fortune-to-charity-heres-how-much-hes-donated-so-far/?sh=606951e73c8c|url-status=live|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213235544/https://www.forbes.com/sites/hayleycuccinello/2020/09/08/elon-musk-has-promised-to-give-at-least-half-his-fortune-to-charity-heres-how-much-hes-donated-so-far/?sh=606951e73c8c|archive-date=December 13, 2020}}</ref> ''[[Vox (website)|Vox]]'' described the foundation as "almost entertaining in its simplicity and yet is strikingly opaque", noting that its website was only 33 words in plain-text.<ref name="vox">{{cite news|last=Schleifer|first=Theodore|date=January 11, 2021|title=The big decision before Elon Musk, now the richest person in the world|url=https://www.vox.com/recode/22221173/elon-musk-tesla-foundation-philanthropy-wealthiest-person|work=Vox|access-date=February 17, 2021|archive-date=February 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217230456/https://www.vox.com/recode/22221173/elon-musk-tesla-foundation-philanthropy-wealthiest-person|url-status=live}}</ref> The foundation has been criticized for the relatively small amount of wealth donated.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Coren|first=Michael J.|title=All the causes Elon Musk's foundation has donated money to since 2002|url=https://qz.com/1911485/elon-musks-charity-donations-use-philanthropy-as-a-tax-haven/|access-date=April 10, 2021|website=Quartz|archive-date=April 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410154305/https://qz.com/1911485/elon-musks-charity-donations-use-philanthropy-as-a-tax-haven/|url-status=live}}</ref> From 2002 to 2018, it gave out $25&nbsp;million directly to [[non-profits]], nearly half of which went to Musk's OpenAI,<ref name="vox" /> which was at the time a non-profit organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://social.techcrunch.com/2019/03/11/openai-shifts-from-nonprofit-to-capped-profit-to-attract-capital/|title=OpenAI shifts from nonprofit to 'capped-profit' to attract capital|access-date=April 25, 2021|archive-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425163152/https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/11/openai-shifts-from-nonprofit-to-capped-profit-to-attract-capital/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
=== Twitter ===
 
{{Further|Acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk}}
 
Musk is an active user of the social media platform [[Twitter]], where he has over 80 million followers.<ref name=":15" /> Musk made the first tweet on his personal account in June 2010.<ref>https://www.theringer.com/tech/2018/8/17/17701728/elon-musk-twitter-tesla-boring-company-public</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visualcapitalist.com/a-decade-of-elon-musks-tweets-visualized/|title=A Decade of Elon Musk’s Tweets, Visualized|first=Carmen|last=Ang|date=March 9, 2022|website=Visual Capitalist}}</ref> He posts memes, promotes his business interests, and sometimes comments on contemporary political and cultural issues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/08/07/news/companies/elon-musk-tweets-tesla-private/index.html|title=Elon Musk tweets a lot. This time was different|first=Julia|last=Horowitz|date=August 7, 2018|website=CNNMoney}}</ref>
 
Musk has faced some controversy as a result of his use of the platform. In August 2018, he claimed in a tweet that he was taking Tesla private at $420 per share, [[420 (cannabis culture)|a joking reference to marijuana]]. An SEC investigation concluded that the tweets had no basis in fact and hurt investors, resulting in separate fines to Musk and Tesla of $20 million each. The settlement also included a clause that Musk would have legal counsel approve tweets about Tesla in advance. In 2022, he was also sued by Tesla shareholders over the tweet. Musk maintains that the joke was "worth it".<ref name="Paul" /> In 2020, a tweet by Musk stating that "Tesla stock price is too high" reduced the company's value by $14 billion. Musk encountered further troubles in 2021, when he tweeted a poll about whether to sell 10% of his stock in the company, before doing so. This resulted in an SEC insider trading investigation into Musk and his brother Kimbal, relating to whether Musk told his brother in advance that he would tweet the poll.<ref name="Paul">{{cite news |last1=Paul |first1=Kari |title=Chaotic and crass: a brief timeline of Elon Musk’s history with Twitter |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/25/timeline-elon-musks-history-twitter |access-date=26 April 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]] | date=26 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Other points of controversy have included his tweets about [[cryptocurrency]] such as [[Dogecoin]] and [[Ethereum]], which have caused their values to fluctuate,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/26/investing/bitcoin-price-dogecoin-ethereum-intl-hnk/index.html|title=Bitcoin, dogecoin and ethereum are suddenly having another great week &#124; CNN Business|first=Michelle|last=Toh|date=July 26, 2021|website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/24/investing/elon-musk-bitcoin-dogecoin-tesla/index.html|title=Crypto investors to Elon Musk: Please stop tweeting!|first=Paul R. La Monica, CNN|last=Business|website=CNN}}</ref> as well as tweets downplaying the severity of COVID-19 and criticizing lockdowns, including one comparing Canadian prime minister [[Justin Trudeau]] to Hitler over vaccine mandates.<ref name="Paul" />
 
Musk tweeted as early as 2017 expressing interest in buying the platform.<ref name="Paul" /> On January 31, 2022, Musk began steadily buying significant quantities of shares in the company, reaching a 5% stake in the company on March 14, 2022.<ref name="elder">{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/d95f6255-010d-4f1b-93db-1cc26bf40538|title=Musk and Twitter: the timeline|work=Financial Times|first=Bryce |last=Elder |date= April 6, 2022}}</ref> Musk reached a total of 73,115,038 shares on April 1, 9.13% of Twitter's overall shares, valued at the time at $2.64 billion, making him the largest shareholder in the company. Musk did not file paperwork to notify the SEC within 10 days of when his stake in the company surpassed 5%, a violation of US securities laws.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Elon Musk delayed filing a form and made $156 million |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/04/06/musk-twitter-sec/ |access-date=April 8, 2022 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> When Musk publicly disclosed his investment in a [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] [[13G filing]] on April 4, 2022, Twitter shares experienced the largest intraday surge since its IPO in 2013 as a flurry of trading activity resulted in the share price increasing by as much as 27%.<ref name=":15">{{cite news |last1=Imbert |first1=Fred |title=Twitter shares close up 27% after Elon Musk takes 9% stake in social media company |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/04/twitter-shares-soar-more-than-25percent-after-elon-musk-takes-9percent-stake-in-social-media-company.html |access-date=April 19, 2022 |work=[[CNBC]] | date=April 4, 2022 |language=en |quote=Twitter shares close up 27% after Elon Musk takes 9% stake in social media company}}</ref> The revelation that Musk had acquired a significant stake in Twitter followed Musk's tweets on March 25 and 26 in which he questioned Twitter's commitment to [[freedom of speech]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Welch |first1=Matt |title=Gatekeepers Very Afraid That Elon Musk Will Remove the Gates From Twitter |url=https://reason.com/2022/04/14/gatekeepers-very-afraid-that-elon-musk-will-remove-the-gates-from-twitter/?utm_medium=email |website=reason.com |date=April 14, 2022 |publisher=Reason |access-date=April 14, 2022}}</ref> and said that he was considering developing a rival social media site,<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 4, 2022 |title=Elon Musk snaps up $3bn Twitter stake |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60979656 |access-date=April 4, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Callum |title=Elon Musk becomes Twitter's biggest shareholder after taking 9.2% stake |language= |work= [[The Times]] | url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/elon-musk-becomes-twitters-biggest-shareholder-after-taking-9-2-stake-p57b9wbs2 |access-date=April 4, 2022 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Turner |first1=Giles |last2=Trudell |first2=Craig |date=April 2, 2022 |title=Elon Musk Takes 9.2% Stake in Twitter After Hinting at Shake-Up |work=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-04/musk-takes-9-2-stake-in-twitter-after-questioning-platform |access-date=April 4, 2022}}</ref> although the comments were made after he had already acquired 7.5% of the company.<ref name="elder" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Placido |first1=Dani Di |title=Twitter Users Fear The Influence Of Elon Musk |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2022/04/05/twitter-users-fear-the-influence-of-elon-musk/?sh=32ab11b32365 |access-date=April 7, 2022 |work=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
 
On April 4, Musk agreed to a deal that would see him appointed to Twitter's board of directors and prohibit him from acquiring more than 14.9% of the company,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Corfield |first=Gareth |date=April 5, 2022 |title=Elon Musk to join Twitter board |language= |work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/04/05/elon-musk-floats-idea-editing-tweets-stock-swoop/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 5, 2022 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=((Twitter, Inc.)) |author1-link=Twitter |title=Form 8-K |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001418091/000119312522095651/d342257d8k.htm |website=SEC Archives |publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] | access-date=April 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411094827/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001418091/000119312522095651/d342257d8k.htm |archive-date=April 11, 2022 |date=April 4, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> but Musk decided not to join the board before his appointment became effective on April 9.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McLean |first=Rob |date=April 11, 2022 |title=Twitter CEO: Elon Musk will not join Twitter board |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/11/tech/elon-musk-twitter-board/index.html |access-date=April 11, 2022 |website=CNN}}</ref> On April 13, Musk made a $43 billion offer to buy Twitter, launching a takeover bid to buy 100% of Twitter's stock at $54.20 per share. In a letter to Twitter's board, he indicated his desire to take the company private: "[Twitter] will neither thrive nor serve [its [[free speech]]] societal imperative in its current form. Twitter needs to be transformed as a private company."<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Adler |first1=Maxwell |last2=Turner |first2=Giles |date=April 14, 2022 |title=Elon Musk Makes $43 Billion Unsolicited Bid to Take Twitter Private |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-14/elon-musk-launches-43-billion-hostile-takeover-of-twitter |access-date=April 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 14, 2022 |title=Elon Musk launches hostile takeover bid for Twitter |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220414-elon-musk-launches-hostile-takeover-bid-for-twitter |access-date=April 14, 2022 |website=Agence France Presse |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 13, 2022 |title=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1418091/000110465922045641/tm2212748d1_sc13da.htm |access-date=April 14, 2022 |website=SEC.gov}}</ref> In response, Twitter's board adopted a [[shareholder rights plan]] to make it significantly more expensive for any single investor to own more than 15% of the company without approval of the board.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Soave |first1=Robby |title=Why Does Elon Musk's Potential Twitter Takeover Scare the Media So Much? |url=https://reason.com/2022/04/18/elon-musk-twitter-takeover-poison-pill-media-speech/ |website=reason.com |date=April 18, 2022 |publisher=Reason |access-date=April 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Feiner |first1=Lauren |title=Twitter board adopts 'poison pill' after Musk's $43 billion bid to buy company |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/15/twitter-board-adopts-poison-pill-after-musks-43-billion-offer-to-buy-company.html |access-date=April 18, 2022 |work=CNBC |date=April 15, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> In a [[TED (conference)|TED]] interview, Musk showed little interest in fighting [[internet censorship]] around the world, saying that "Twitter should match the laws of the country". Instead, Musk's concern about free speech has been directed almost entirely at Twitter's [[Moderation system|moderation]] policies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Robertson |first1=Adi |title=What Elon Musk's Twitter 'free speech' promises miss |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/15/23025120/elon-musk-twitter-free-speech-government-censorship |access-date=April 25, 2022 |work=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media |date=April 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Milmo |first1=Dan |title=How 'free speech absolutist' Elon Musk would transform Twitter |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/14/how-free-speech-absolutist-elon-musk-would-transform-twitter |access-date=April 25, 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=April 14, 2022}}</ref>
 
On April 20, Musk secured funding worth $46.5 billion.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hirsch |first1=Lauren |title=Elon Musk details his plan to pay for a $46.5 billion takeover of Twitter. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/21/business/elon-musk-twitter-funding.html |access-date=April 27, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=April 21, 2022}}</ref> The funding included $12.5 billion in loans against Musk's stock in [[Tesla, Inc.|Tesla]], and $21 billion in equity financing, such as from selling Tesla shares.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Isaac |first1=Mike |last2=Hirsch |first2=Lauren |title=With Deal for Twitter, Musk Lands a Prize and Pledges Fewer Limits |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/25/technology/musk-twitter-sale.html?searchResultPosition=19 |access-date=April 26, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=April 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=MacMillan |first1=Douglas |last2=Siddiqui |first2=Faiz |last3=Lerman |first3=Rachel |last4=Telford |first4=Taylor |title=Elon Musk acquires Twitter for roughly $44 billion |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/04/25/twitter-elon-musk-deal/ |access-date=April 26, 2022 |work=The Washington Post |date=April 25, 2022}}</ref> On April 25, it was reported that Twitter was prepared to accept Musk's offer.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Roumeliotis |first=Greg |date=April 25, 2022 |title=Twitter set to accept Musk's $43 billion offer |language=en |work=[[Reuters]] | url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/exclusive-twitter-set-accept-musks-best-final-offer-sources-2022-04-25/|access-date=April 25, 2022}}</ref> Later that same day, Elon Musk successfully concluded his bid to buy Twitter and bring the company [[Privately held company|private]] for approximately $44 billion.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stahl |first1=George |title=Musk-Twitter Deal Values Company at Around $44 Billion |url=https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/twitter-elon-musk-latest-news/card/musk-twitter-deal-values-company-at-around-44-billion-MdEXkyNxU0GbJ1kqBc1M |website=www.wsj.com |publisher=Wall Street Journal |access-date=April 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sangal |first1=Aditi |last2=Chowdhury |first2=Maureen |last3=Wagner |first3=Meg |last4=Macaya |first4=Melissa |last5=Hayes |first5=Mike |title=Elon Musk to buy Twitter |url=https://www.cnn.com/business/live-news/elon-musk-twitter/index.html |website=www.cnn.com |date=April 25, 2022 |publisher=CNN |access-date=April 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Brodkin |first1=Jon |title=It's happening: Elon Musk strikes deal to buy Twitter for $44 billion |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/04/twitter-announces-deal-to-sell-company-to-elon-musk-for-44-billion/ |website=arstechnica.com |date=April 25, 2022 |publisher=Ars Technica |access-date=April 25, 2022}}</ref> In a statement, Musk said:<ref>{{cite web |last1=Abbruzzese |first1=Jason |last2=Wile |first2=Rob |title=Elon Musk reaches deal to buy Twitter |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/elon-musk-reaches-deal-to-buy-twitter/ar-AAWAbFk |website=www.msn.com |publisher=MSN |access-date=April 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wolfe |first1=Liz |title=Elon Musk Buys Twitter, Twitter's Biggest Egos Melt Down |url=https://reason.com/2022/04/25/elon-musk-buys-twitter-twitters-biggest-egos-melt-down/ |website=reason.com |date=April 25, 2022 |publisher=Reason |access-date=April 25, 2022}}</ref> {{blockquote|Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated, I also want to make Twitter better than ever by enhancing the product with new features, making the algorithms open source to increase trust, defeating the spam bots, and authenticating all humans. Twitter has tremendous potential—I look forward to working with the company and the community of users to unlock it.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Leffer |first1=Lauren |title=Elon Musk Is Officially Buying Twitter |url=https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-is-officially-buying-twitter-1848837212 |website=gizmodo.com |publisher=Gizmodo |access-date=25 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Vlachou |first1=Marita |title=Elon Musk Buys Twitter For $44 Billion |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/elon-musk-buys-twitter_n_626672c4e4b00b4e01814506?y7q |website=www.huffpost.com |date=April 25, 2022 |publisher=Huffington Post |access-date=April 25, 2022}}</ref>}}
 
[[Tesla, Inc.|Tesla]]'s stock sunk by more than $125 billion the next day in reaction to the deal, causing Musk to lose around $30 billion of his net worth.<ref name="Tesla’s value dropped Tuesday">{{cite news |last1=Siddiqui |first1=Faiz |title=Tesla’s value dropped Tuesday by more than double the cost of Twitter |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/04/26/elon-musk-tesla-twitter-stock/ |access-date=April 26, 2022 |work=The Washington Post |date=April 26, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gura |first1=David |title=Tesla shares sink, wipe out over $125 billion in value, as Musk scores Twitter deal |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/04/26/1094870412/tesla-shares-sink-twitter-elon-musk |access-date=April 26, 2022 |work=NPR |date=April 26, 2022}}</ref> He subsequently tweeted criticism of Twitter executive [[Vijaya Gadde]]'s policies to his 86 million followers, which led to some of them to engage in sexist and racist harassment against her.<ref>
*{{cite news |last1=Woo |first1=Erin |last2=Isaac |first2=Mike |title=In tweets, Musk takes aim at Twitter executives, creating outrage. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/04/27/technology/twitter-elon-musk-news/in-tweets-musk-takes-aim-at-twitter-executives-creating-outrage?smid=url-copy |access-date=April 27, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=April 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428030308/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/04/27/technology/twitter-elon-musk-news |archive-date=April 28, 2022}}
*{{cite news |last1=Zakrzewski |first1=Cat |last2=Dwoskin |first2=Elizabeth |last3=Siddiqui |first3=Faiz |title=Elon Musk boosts criticism of Twitter executives, prompting online attacks |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/04/27/musk-twitter-attacks/ |access-date=April 27, 2022 |work=The Washington Post |date=April 27, 2022}}
*{{cite news |last1=Robertson |first1=Adi |title=Twitter policy chief faces wave of harassment amid Musk criticism |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/27/23044521/twitter-policy-chief-vijaya-gadde-elon-musk-policy-criticism-harassment |access-date=April 27, 2022 |work=The Verge |date=April 27, 2022}}
*{{cite news |last1=Wagner |first1=Kurt |last2=Adler |first2=Maxwell |title=Twitter Legal Executive Hit With Online Abuse Following Musk Tweet |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-27/musk-s-tweet-on-twitter-legal-executive-presages-wave-of-abuse |access-date=April 27, 2022 |work=Bloomberg |date=April 27, 2022}}
*{{cite news |last1=Bhattacharya |first1=Ananya |title=An Indian-born female Twitter executive received a barrage of abuse following a Musk tweet |url=https://qz.com/2159659/twitters-vijaya-gadde-is-trolled-following-elon-musks-tweet/ |access-date=April 27, 2022 |work=Quartz |date=April 27, 2022}}</ref>
 
== Wealth ==
 
[[File:Elon Musk net worth graph.png|thumb|alt=A graph of Musk's net worth from 2012 to 2021, displaying a roughly exponential trend|Musk's net worth from 2012 to 2021 as estimated by ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine]]
Musk made $175.8 million when PayPal was sold to eBay in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Klebnikov|first=Sergei|date=August 8, 2017|title=8 Innovative Ways Elon Musk Made Money Before He Was a Billionaire|url=https://money.com/8-innovative-ways-elon-musk-made-money-before-he-was-a-billionaire/|url-status=live|access-date=April 13, 2021|website=Money|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809053228/https://money.com/8-innovative-ways-elon-musk-made-money-before-he-was-a-billionaire/}}</ref> He was first listed on the [[The World's Billionaires|''Forbes'' Billionaires List]] in 2012, with a net worth of $2 billion.<ref>{{cite news|last=Melby|first=Caleb|date=March 12, 2012|title=How Elon Musk Became A Billionaire Twice Over|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/calebmelby/2012/03/12/how-elon-musk-became-a-billionaire-twice-over/?sh=360739d01c88|work=Forbes|access-date=February 17, 2021}}</ref>
 
At the start of 2020, Musk had a net worth of $27&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Frank|first=Robert|date=January 7, 2021|title=Elon Musk is now the richest person in the world, passing Jeff Bezos|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/07/elon-musk-is-now-the-richest-person-in-the-world-passing-jeff-bezos-.html|access-date=April 13, 2021|website=[[CNBC]] | archive-date=April 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406160534/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/07/elon-musk-is-now-the-richest-person-in-the-world-passing-jeff-bezos-.html|url-status=live}}</ref> By the year's end his net worth had increased by $150&nbsp;billion, largely driven by his ownership of around 20% of Tesla stock.<ref name="tesla stock">{{cite news|last=O'Kane|first=Sean|date=January 7, 2021|title=Elon Musk passes Jeff Bezos to become the richest person on Earth|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/7/22163361/elon-musk-billionaire-richest-world-jeff-bezos-tesla-stock-spacex|work=[[The Verge]] | access-date=February 17, 2021}}</ref> During this, Musk's net worth was often volatile. For example, it dropped $16.3&nbsp;billion in September, the largest single-day plunge in the history of the ''[[Bloomberg Billionaires Index]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pitcher|first=Jack|date=September 8, 2020|title=Elon Musk Loses Record $16.3 Billion With Wild Wealth Swings|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-08/elon-musk-loses-record-16-3-billion-with-wild-wealth-swings|work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] | access-date=February 23, 2021|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927063219/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-08/elon-musk-loses-record-16-3-billion-with-wild-wealth-swings|url-status=live}}</ref> In November of that year, Musk passed [[Facebook]] co-founder [[Mark Zuckerberg]] to become the third-richest person in the world; a week later he passed [[Microsoft]] co-founder [[Bill Gates]] to become the second-richest.<ref name="gates">{{cite news|last=Neate|first=Rupert|date=November 14, 2020|title=Elon Musk overtakes Bill Gates to become world's second-richest person|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/nov/24/elon-musk-bill-gates-tesla-share-price-microsoft|work=[[The Guardian]] | access-date=February 17, 2021|archive-date=January 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114031157/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/nov/24/elon-musk-bill-gates-tesla-share-price-microsoft|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2021, Musk, with a net worth of $185&nbsp;billion, surpassed [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] founder [[Jeff Bezos]] to become the richest person in the world.<ref>{{cite news|date=January 7, 2021|title=Elon Musk becomes world's richest person as wealth tops $185bn|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-55578403|work=[[BBC News]] | access-date=February 17, 2021|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108023023/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-55578403|url-status=live}}</ref> Bezos reclaimed the top spot the following month.<ref>{{cite news|last=Palmer|first=Annie|date=February 16, 2021|title=Jeff Bezos overtakes Elon Musk to reclaim spot as world's richest person|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/16/jeff-bezos-reclaims-spot-as-worlds-richest-person-from-elon-musk.html|work=[[CNBC]] | access-date=February 17, 2021|archive-date=February 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216231812/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/16/jeff-bezos-reclaims-spot-as-worlds-richest-person-from-elon-musk.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 27, 2021, Forbes announced that Musk had a net worth of over $200 billion, and was the richest person in the world, after Tesla stock surged.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cai|first=Kenrick|title=Elon Musk Eclipses $200 Billion To Become Richest Person In The World Again|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrickcai/2021/09/27/elon-musk-200-billion-richest-person-in-the-world/|access-date=September 28, 2021|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> In November 2021, Musk became the first person with a net worth over $300 billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizahaverstock/2021/11/02/elon-musk-is-the-first-person-worth-more-than-300-billion-but-hertz-uncertainty-threatens-tesla-stock-tear/?sh=289580b521f4|title=Elon Musk Is The First Person Worth More Than $300 Billion|work=Forbes|first=Eliza|last=Haverstock|date=November 2, 2021|access-date=November 4, 2021}}</ref>
 
Around three-quarters of Musk's wealth derives from Tesla.<ref name="gates" /> Musk does not receive a salary from Tesla; he agreed in 2018 to a compensation plan with the board that ties his personal earnings to Tesla's valuation and revenue.<ref name="tesla stock" /> The deal stipulated that Musk only receives the compensation if Tesla reaches certain market values.<ref name="payout2">{{cite news|last=Sorkin|first=Andrew Ross|date=January 23, 2018|title=Tesla's Elon Musk May Have Boldest Pay Plan in Corporate History|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/23/business/dealbook/tesla-elon-musk-pay.html|work=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=February 17, 2021|archive-date=February 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211195909/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/23/business/dealbook/tesla-elon-musk-pay.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was the largest such deal ever done between a CEO and board.<ref name="payout" /> In the first award, given in May 2020, he was eligible to purchase 1.69&nbsp;million TSLA shares (about 1% of the company) at below-market prices, which was worth about $800&nbsp;million.<ref name="payout">{{cite news|last=O'Kane|first=Sean|date=May 28, 2020|title=Elon Musk reaches first Tesla compensation award worth nearly $800&nbsp;million|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/28/21273882/elon-musk-tesla-compensation-plan-stock-award-dollars|work=[[The Verge]] | access-date=February 17, 2021|archive-date=February 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202011557/https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/28/21273882/elon-musk-tesla-compensation-plan-stock-award-dollars|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="payout2" />
 
Musk paid $455 million in taxes on $1.52 billion of income between 2014 and 2018.<ref name="CNBCTax">{{cite news |last1=Browne |first1=Ryan |title=Elon Musk says he will pay over $11 billion in taxes this year |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/20/elon-musk-says-he-will-pay-over-11-billion-in-taxes-this-year.html |access-date=March 3, 2022 |publisher=CNBC |date=December 20, 2021}}</ref> According to [[ProPublica]], Musk paid no federal income taxes in 2018.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mangan|first=Dan|date=June 8, 2021|title=Bezos, Buffett, Bloomberg, Musk, Icahn and Soros pay tiny fraction of wealth in income taxes, report reveals|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/08/bezos-musk-buffett-bloomberg-icahn-and-soros-pay-little-in-taxes.html|work=[[CNBC]] | access-date=June 8, 2021}}</ref> His 2021 tax bill was estimated at $12 billion based on his sale of $14 billion worth of Tesla stock.<ref name="CNBCTax" />
 
Musk has repeatedly described himself as "[[wikt:cash poor|cash poor]]",<ref name="cash">{{cite news|last=Pendeleton|first=Devon|date=January 6, 2021|title=Elon Musk Surpasses Jeff Bezos to Become World's Richest Person|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-06/musk-close-to-surpassing-bezos-as-world-s-richest-person|work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] | access-date=February 17, 2021|archive-date=January 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106191553/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-06/musk-close-to-surpassing-bezos-as-world-s-richest-person|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="wsj">{{cite news|last=Higgins|first=Tim|date=May 8, 2020|title=Elon Musk, Tech's Cash-Poor Billionaire|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-techs-cash-poor-billionaire-11588967043|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | access-date=February 17, 2021|archive-date=February 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216200534/https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-techs-cash-poor-billionaire-11588967043|url-status=live}}</ref> and has "professed to have little interest in the material trappings of wealth".<ref name="cash" /> In 2012, Musk signed [[The Giving Pledge]] and, in May 2020, pledged to "sell almost all physical possessions".<ref name="wsj" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Popken|first=Ben|date=January 22, 2021|title=Musk to donate sliver of net worth for carbon capture|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/elon-musk-donate-sliver-net-worth-carbon-capture-n1255402|work=[[NBC News]] | access-date=February 25, 2021|archive-date=February 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205183120/https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/elon-musk-donate-sliver-net-worth-carbon-capture-n1255402|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, Musk defended his wealth by saying he is "accumulating resources to help make life multiplanetary [and] extend the light of consciousness to the stars".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Woodward|first=Alex|date=March 22, 2021|title=Bernie Sanders responds to Elon Musk's space travel plans with call for progressive taxes|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/bernie-sanders-elon-musk-space-b1820744.html|url-status=live|access-date=April 13, 2021|website=[[The Independent]] | archive-date=April 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413233021/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/bernie-sanders-elon-musk-space-b1820744.html}}</ref> In the early 2000s, Musk was<!-- he bacame one? or he was one and no longer is? -->{{clarify|date=March 2022}} a private pilot, his favorite aircraft then being the [[Aero L-39 Albatros|L-39 Albatros]], though he decided to stop piloting by 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mosher|first=Dave|title=Elon Musk used to fly 'a Russian fighter jet' while founding SpaceX and Tesla and raising his kids|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-flew-military-l39-fighter-jet-trainer-airplanes-2018-8|access-date=November 7, 2021|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=March 15, 2019|title=Which jets do Jeff Bezos and other tech billionaires own?|url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3001626/which-private-jets-do-tech-billionaires-jeff-bezos-bill|access-date=November 7, 2021|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}}</ref> He uses a private jet owned by SpaceX<ref name="flight">{{Cite web|last=Geuss|first=Megan|date=January 30, 2019|title=Elon Musk's private jet appears to make frivolous flights, per Washington Post|url=https://arstechnica.com/cars/2019/01/elon-musk-private-jet-flew-150000-miles-in-2018-washington-post-reports/|access-date=April 14, 2021|website=Ars Technica|archive-date=April 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414015748/https://arstechnica.com/cars/2019/01/elon-musk-private-jet-flew-150000-miles-in-2018-washington-post-reports/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Harris|first=Mark|date=July 5, 2020|title=Would You Pay $7,500 to Educate Your Kid Like Elon Musk's?|work=The Daily Beast|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/would-you-pay-dollar7500-to-educate-your-kid-like-elon-musks|access-date=April 14, 2021|archive-date=November 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104121912/https://www.thedailybeast.com/would-you-pay-dollar7500-to-educate-your-kid-like-elon-musks|url-status=live}}</ref> and acquired a second jet in August 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rapier|first=Graham|title=Elon Musk now has another lavish Gulfstream private jet in his arsenal|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-acquire-second-gulfstream-private-jet-faa-records-2020-8|access-date=November 7, 2021|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}}</ref> The jet's heavy use of [[fossil fuel]]s—it flew over 150,000 miles in 2018—has received criticism.<ref name="flight" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Harwell|first=Drew|date=January 29, 2019|title=Elon Musk's highflying 2018: What 150,000 miles in a private jet reveal about his 'excruciating' year|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/elon-musks-highflying-2018-what-150000-miles-in-a-private-jet-reveal-about-his-excruciating-year/2019/01/29/83b5604e-20ee-11e9-8b59-0a28f2191131_story.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | access-date=May 14, 2021}}</ref>
 
== Views ==
 
{{Main|Views of Elon Musk}}
 
=== U.S. politics ===
 
[[File:Vice President Pence at the Kennedy Space Center (49946170631).jpg|thumb|alt=Musk converses with US Vice President Mike Pence, the Second Lady, and other officials|Musk with then US Vice President [[Mike Pence]] in 2020 at the [[Kennedy Space Center]] shortly before [[SpaceX]]'s [[Crew Dragon Demo-2]] launch]]
 
In 2015, Musk stated he was a "significant (though not top-tier) donor to Democrats" but that he also gives heavily to Republicans. Musk said that political contributions are a requirement to have a voice in the United States government.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">{{cite news|date=February 20, 2013|title=Elon Musk, SpaceX Founder, Battles Entrenched Rivals Over NASA Contracts|work=[[The Huffington Post]] | url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/20/elon-musk-spacex_n_2727312.html|access-date=May 30, 2015|archive-date=May 30, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530231139/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/20/elon-musk-spacex_n_2727312.html}}</ref> Musk criticized [[Donald Trump]] for his stance on [[climate change]]<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 29, 2020|title=Elon Musk says he may vote for Trump, despite climate crisis|first=Madeline|last=Roth|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election/elon-musk-vote-trump-president-us-elections-b681470.html|access-date=April 12, 2021|work=[[The Independent]] | archive-date=April 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412062314/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election/elon-musk-vote-trump-president-us-elections-b681470.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and after joining Trump's two business advisory councils,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vox.com/2016/12/14/13954102/elon-musk-travis-kalanick-donald-trump-strategic-policy-forum|title=Elon Musk and Travis Kalanick are joining Donald Trump's strategic and policy forum|last=Bhuiyan|first=Johana|date=December 14, 2016|work=Vox|access-date=March 7, 2020|archive-date=March 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325223216/https://www.vox.com/2016/12/14/13954102/elon-musk-travis-kalanick-donald-trump-strategic-policy-forum|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-become-trump-adviser-532188|title=Donald Trump has asked for Elon Musk's help|first=Anthony|last=Cuthbertson|date=December 15, 2016|website=Newsweek|access-date=March 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803161648/https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-become-trump-adviser-532188|archive-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref> Musk resigned from both in June 2017 in protest against Trump's decision to [[United States withdrawal from the Paris Agreement|withdraw the United States]] from the [[Paris Agreement]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lee|first=Timothy B.|date=June 1, 2017|title=Elon Musk has cut ties with Trump over his Paris decision|url=https://www.vox.com/new-money/2017/6/1/15724042/paris-climate-agreement-elon-musk|access-date=May 16, 2021|website=Vox}}</ref> In the [[2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries|2020 Democratic presidential primaries]], Musk endorsed candidate [[Andrew Yang]] and expressed support for his proposed [[universal basic income]];<ref name="bloomberg.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-10/elon-musk-says-he-supports-2020-white-house-hopeful-andrew-yang |url-access=limited |title=Elon Musk Says He Supports 2020 White House Hopeful Andrew Yang |author=Maria Jose Valero|work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] | access-date=August 10, 2019 |date=August 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406194427/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-10/elon-musk-says-he-supports-2020-white-house-hopeful-andrew-yang|archive-date=April 6, 2020}}</ref> he endorsed [[Kanye West]]'s independent [[Kanye West 2020 presidential campaign|campaign]] in the general election.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Kirkpatrick|first=Emily|title=Elon Musk Supports Kanye West's Run for President...Again|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/07/elon-musk-kanye-west-president-support-again|access-date=September 5, 2020|magazine=Vanity Fair|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803183739/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/07/elon-musk-kanye-west-president-support-again|url-status=live}}</ref> Musk has stated that he thinks a theoretical government on Mars should be [[direct democracy]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Grush|first=Loren|date=May 11, 2020|title=Elon Musk thinks the best government for Mars is a direct democracy|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/2/11837590/elon-musk-mars-government-direct-democracy-law-code-conference|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719185616/https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/2/11837590/elon-musk-mars-government-direct-democracy-law-code-conference|archive-date=July 19, 2020|access-date=May 11, 2020|website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> In September 2021, following the adoption of Texas' strict abortion restrictions, Texas Governor [[Greg Abbott]] stated that Musk and SpaceX supported Texas' "social policies". In response, Musk stated, "In general, I believe government should rarely impose its will upon the people, and, when doing so, should aspire to maximize their cumulative happiness. That said, I would prefer to stay out of politics."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Breuninger |first1=Lora Kolodny,Kevin |title=Elon Musk declines to address Texas abortion law directly after Gov. Greg Abbott's comments |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/02/texas-abortion-law-elon-musk-reacts-to-gov-greg-abbotts-comments.html |website=CNBC |access-date=September 7, 2021 |date=September 2, 2021}}</ref> Regarding Democratic proposals for increased [[Wealth tax|taxes on billionaires]], Musk's responses have included critical policy remarks and lashing out at proponents such as [[Ron Wyden|Senator Ron Wyden]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Levin|first=Bess|date=October 27, 2021|title=Elon Musk Throws a S--t Fit Over the Possibility of Being Taxed His Fair Share|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/10/elon-musk-billionaires-tax|access-date=November 8, 2021|website=Vanity Fair Blogs-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=November 8, 2021|title=Elon Musk Tweets Vulgar Crack at Sen. Ron Wyden|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/elon-musk-tweets-vulgar-crack-at-sen-ron-wyden|access-date=November 8, 2021|website=The Daily Beast}}</ref>
 
In November 2021, Musk was criticized after mocking U.S. Senator [[Bernie Sanders]] on Twitter. Sanders posted a message on Twitter saying "We must demand that the extremely wealthy pay their fair share. Period." Musk then replied: "I keep forgetting that you're still alive."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pengelly|first=Martin|date=November 14, 2021|title=Elon Musk targets Bernie Sanders over tax: 'I keep forgetting you're still alive'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/nov/14/elon-musk-bernie-sanders-tax-twitter|access-date=November 18, 2021|website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Maruf|first=Ramishah|title='I keep forgetting you're still alive:' Elon Musk trolls Bernie Sanders on Twitter|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/14/business/elon-musk-bernie-sanders-tweet/index.html|access-date=November 18, 2021|website=[[CNN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lenthang|first=Marlene|date=November 15, 2021|title=Elon Musk targets Sen. Bernie Sanders over tax tweet: 'I keep forgetting that you're still alive'|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/elon-musk-targets-sen-bernie-sanders-tax-tweet-keep-forgetting-re-stil-rcna5578|access-date=November 18, 2021|website=[[NBC News]]}}</ref>
 
=== COVID-19 ===
 
{{Tweet
| text = Based on current trends, probably close to zero new cases in US too by end of April
| name = Elon Musk
| username = elonmusk
| image = Elon Musk Royal Society (crop1).jpg
| date = March 19, 2020
| ID = 1240754657263144960
| url-status = live
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200319221744/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1240754657263144960
| archive-date = March 19, 2020
| width = 320px
| left = a
}}
Musk was criticized for his public comments and conduct related to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name=":11">{{Cite news|last=Kolodny|first=Lora|date=March 17, 2020|title=Tesla factory is still open for business as Musk tells employees 'I will personally be at work'|work=[[CNBC]] | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/17/tesla-keeps-fremont-factory-open-amid-covid-19-shelter-in-place-orders.html|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=May 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510081847/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/17/tesla-keeps-fremont-factory-open-amid-covid-19-shelter-in-place-orders.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Koren|first=Marina|date=May 10, 2020|title=The Cult of Elon Is Cracking|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/05/elon-musk-coronavirus-pandemic-tweets/611887/|work=The Atlantic|access-date=February 2, 2021|archive-date=December 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210082850/https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/05/elon-musk-coronavirus-pandemic-tweets/611887/|url-status=live}}</ref> He spread [[COVID-19 misinformation|misinformation]] about the virus, including promoting [[chloroquine]] and assuming that death statistics were manipulated.<ref name="standardelon">{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/elon-musk-coronavirus-tests-positive-negative-b69559.html|website=Evening Standard|title=Elon Musk claims he tested positive and negative for coronavirus on the same day after four tests|date=November 13, 2020|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117134236/http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/elon-musk-coronavirus-tests-positive-negative-b69559.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Elon Musk is dangerously wrong about the novel coronavirus|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/29/21241180/elon-musk-coronavirus-conspiracy-misinformation-tesla|last=Brandom|first=Russell|date=April 29, 2020|website=[[The Verge]] | access-date=May 6, 2020|archive-date=May 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524022312/https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/29/21241180/elon-musk-coronavirus-conspiracy-misinformation-tesla|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="McFall-Johnsen 2020">{{cite web | last=McFall-Johnsen | first=Morgan | title=Elon Musk promoted coronavirus misinformation for months. Then his own infection kept him out of SpaceX's astronaut launch. | website=Business Insider | date=November 25, 2020 | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-promoted-coronavirus-misinformation-then-tested-positive-2020-11 | access-date=November 7, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Walsh|first=Joe|title=Elon Musk's False Covid Predictions: A Timeline|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2021/03/13/elon-musks-false-covid-predictions-a-timeline/|access-date=December 22, 2021|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Ritschel 2020">{{cite web | last=Ritschel | first=Chelsea | title=Elon Musk 'mansplains' coronavirus to infectious disease expert | website=The Independent | date=July 2, 2020 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/elon-musk-coronavirus-mansplaining-angela-rasmussen-twitter-a9598976.html | access-date=January 20, 2022}}</ref> At the start of the pandemic, he claimed that children "[[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children|are essentially immune]]" to the [[SARS-CoV-2]] coronavirus.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51975377|title=Coronavirus: Elon Musk 'child immunity' tweet will stay online|work=[[BBC News]] | date=March 20, 2020|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=April 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412184446/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51975377|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Fried|first=Ina|date=March 20, 2020|title=Twitter lets Musk's coronavirus misinformation stand|url=https://www.axios.com/twitter-lets-musks-coronavirus-misinformation-stand-0f05b1fa-d1e7-4d9b-91f7-95c7311748d1.html|work=Axios|access-date=February 2, 2021|archive-date=February 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224212820/https://www.axios.com/twitter-lets-musks-coronavirus-misinformation-stand-0f05b1fa-d1e7-4d9b-91f7-95c7311748d1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Twitter determined that, given the "overall context and conclusion of the Tweet", it did not break their rules on COVID-19 commentary; the decision was described as "irresponsible" by ''[[The Verge]]''.<ref name="O'Kane">{{cite news|last= O'Kane|first=Sean|work=The Verge|date=March 20, 2020|title=Twitter won't remove irresponsible Elon Musk tweet about coronavirus|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/20/21187760/twitter-elon-musk-tweet-coronavirus-misinformation|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref>
 
Musk also called "the coronavirus panic...dumb".<ref>{{cite news|last=Cooper|first=Gael Fashingbauer|date=March 6, 2020|title=Elon Musk draws ire after calling panic over coronavirus epidemic 'dumb'|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musk-draws-ire-after-calling-panic-over-coronavirus-epidemic-dumb/|work=Cnet|access-date=September 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903235201/https://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musk-draws-ire-after-calling-panic-over-coronavirus-epidemic-dumb/|archive-date=September 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last= Bursztynsky|first=Jessica|date=March 6, 2020|title=Elon Musk says 'the coronavirus panic is dumb' as tech peers shift to remote work|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/06/teslas-elon-musk-says-the-coronavirus-panic-is-dumb.html|work=[[CNBC]] | access-date=September 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808034740/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/06/teslas-elon-musk-says-the-coronavirus-panic-is-dumb.html|archive-date=August 8, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Boudette|first1=Neal E.|last2=Flitter|first2=Emily|date=May 9, 2020|title=Elon Musk Lashes Out at Officials Keeping Tesla Plant Closed Over Virus|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/09/business/coronavirus-elon-musk-tesla-california.html|work=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=September 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901054355/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/09/business/coronavirus-elon-musk-tesla-california.html|archive-date=September 1, 2020}}</ref> Musk repeatedly criticized lockdowns and defied local [[shelter-in-place]] orders by re-opening the [[Tesla Fremont Factory|Tesla Fremont factory]] in March 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-18/tesla-plan-to-keep-factory-open-thrown-up-in-the-air-by-sheriff|title=Tesla Plan to Keep Factory Open Thrown Up in Air by Sheriff|website=[[Bloomberg News]] | date=March 18, 2020|access-date=June 4, 2020|archive-date=June 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604084251/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-18/tesla-plan-to-keep-factory-open-thrown-up-in-the-air-by-sheriff|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cisa.gov/critical-manufacturing-sector|title=Critical Manufacturing Sector|author=U.S. Department of Homeland Security|date=December 4, 2018|access-date=June 4, 2020|archive-date=June 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607140035/https://www.cisa.gov/critical-manufacturing-sector|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Tiku|first1=Nitasha|last2=Siddiqui|first2=Faiz|date=April 30, 2020|title=Elon Musk mobilizes tech elites behind reopening society|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/04/30/musk-coronavirus-quarantines/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | access-date=February 2, 2021|archive-date=November 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120213036/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/04/30/musk-coronavirus-quarantines/|url-status=live}}</ref> In an internal email sent to all Tesla employees, Musk referred to [[COVID-19]] as a "specific form of the [[common cold]]" and predicted that confirmed COVID-19 cases will not exceed 0.1% ''(n.b., one tenth of one percent)'' of the US population.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lambert |first1=Fred |title=Elon Musk says ‘coronavirus panic is worse than virus itself’ in email to Tesla employees |url=https://electrek.co/2020/03/17/elon-musk-tesla-coronavirus-panic-email/ |access-date=28 April 2022 |publisher=Electrek |date=17 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317104456/https://electrek.co/2020/03/17/elon-musk-tesla-coronavirus-panic-email/ |archive-date=17 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Commenting on a ''New York Times'' report that China had reported no new cases of domestic spread of the novel coronavirus, Musk predicted that there would be "probably close to zero new cases in US by the end of April [2020]".<ref>{{cite news|last=Darby|first=Luke|date=May 12, 2020|title=After Predicting "Close to Zero New Cases" by the End of April, Elon Musk Defies Public Health Orders and Reopens Tesla Factory|url=https://www.gq.com/story/elon-musk-arrest-me|work=GQ|access-date=January 31, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126162923/https://www.gq.com/story/elon-musk-arrest-me|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Koren|first=Marina|date=May 20, 2020|title=The Cult of Elon Is Cracking|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/05/elon-musk-coronavirus-pandemic-tweets/611887/|work=The Atlantic|access-date=January 31, 2021|archive-date=December 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210082850/https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/05/elon-musk-coronavirus-pandemic-tweets/611887/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Politico]]'' later labeled this statement one of "the most audacious, confident and spectacularly incorrect prognostications [of 2020]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/12/29/worst-predictions-about-2020-451444|title=The Worst Predictions of 2020|date=December 29, 2020|access-date=December 30, 2020|work=Politico|first=Zack|last=Stanton|archive-date=December 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229182244/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/12/29/worst-predictions-about-2020-451444|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2020, the phrase "Space [[Karen (pejorative)|Karen]]" [[Twitter trends|trended on Twitter]] in connection with Musk after he tweeted misinformation about the effectiveness of [[COVID-19 testing]].<ref name="O'Kane" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Andrews|first=Travis M.|date=November 17, 2020|title=A scientist's viral tweet called Elon Musk 'Space Karen' — as a way to defend science|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/11/17/space-karen-elon-musk/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | access-date=January 14, 2021|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111034119/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/11/17/space-karen-elon-musk/|url-status=live|quote=On Sunday, that misinformation came from Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who tweeted about rapid antigen tests to his more than 40&nbsp;million followers. "Something extremely bogus is going on," Musk wrote.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pesce|first=Nicole Lyn|date=November 21, 2020|title=Why Elon Musk is being called 'Space Karen' on Twitter|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-elon-musk-is-being-called-space-karen-on-twitter-2020-11-16|work=Market Watch|access-date=January 14, 2021|archive-date=November 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129220421/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-elon-musk-is-being-called-space-karen-on-twitter-2020-11-16|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Cuthbertson|first=Anthony|date=November 16, 2020|title=Elon Musk Forced to Watch Historic SpaceX Launch from Home and Mocked as 'Space Karen' After Catching COVID|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/elon-musk-coronavirus-spacex-launch-covid-b1723556.html|work=[[The Independent]] | access-date=January 14, 2021|archive-date=January 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121040828/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/elon-musk-coronavirus-spacex-launch-covid-b1723556.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Also in March 2020, Musk offered to donate [[ventilator]]s which [[Tesla, Inc.|Tesla]] would build or buy from a third party.<ref name=":8">{{cite web|title=We will give away all our ventilators, whether we buy them or build them|url=https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1243567346503094276|access-date=September 13, 2020|website=Twitter|archive-date=August 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828050617/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1243567346503094276|url-status=live}}</ref> Multiple hospitals noted that the devices eventually donated were [[Bi-level positive airway pressure|BiPAP]] and [[CPAP machine]]s, not the much more expensive and sought-after invasive mechanical ventilator (IMV) machines, but the devices could still be used to free up ventilators for the sickest patients.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Johnson|first=Martin|date=April 17, 2020|title=California hospitals say Elon Musk sent them BiPAP, CPAP machines, not ventilators|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/493386-california-hospitals-say-elon-musk-sent-them-bipap-cpap-machines-not|access-date=November 3, 2020|work=The Hill|archive-date=October 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025063941/https://thehill.com/policy/technology/493386-california-hospitals-say-elon-musk-sent-them-bipap-cpap-machines-not|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Carville|first1=Olivia|last2=Hull|first2=Dana|date=April 17, 2020|title=Elon Musk's 'Ventilators' Arrived at Hospitals — With Some Assembly Required|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-17/hospitals-made-use-of-modified-tesla-donated-breathing-machines|work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] | access-date=January 23, 2021|archive-date=January 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129020914/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-17/hospitals-made-use-of-modified-tesla-donated-breathing-machines|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title=Invasive Mechanical Ventilation |journal= Southern Medical Journal|year= 2018|pmc= 6284234|last1= Walter|first1= J. M.|last2= Corbridge|first2= T. C.|last3= Singer|first3= B. D.|volume= 111|issue= 12|pages= 746–753|doi= 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000000905|pmid= 30512128}}</ref> Invasive ventilators can cost up to $50,000, whereas CPAP machines can be purchased for around $500.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Researchers Modify Sleep Apnea Machines to Ease Ventilator Shortage |author= |work=AJMC |date= |access-date=January 10, 2022 |url= https://www.ajmc.com/view/researchers-modify-sleep-apnea-machines-to-ease-ventilator-shortage}}</ref>
 
In 2021, findings of an [[Serological testing|antibody-testing]] program that SpaceX worked with doctors and academic researchers to create were published in ''[[Nature Communications]]'' with Musk listed as a co-author.<ref>{{cite news|last=Krouse|first=Sarah|date=February 20, 2021|title=Elon Musk Got 4,000 SpaceX Workers to Join a Covid-19 Study. Here's What He Learned.|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-got-4-000-spacex-workers-to-join-a-covid-19-study-heres-what-he-learned-11613826001|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=February 23, 2021|archive-date=February 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222221922/https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-got-4-000-spacex-workers-to-join-a-covid-19-study-heres-what-he-learned-11613826001|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title= Discrete SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers track with functional humoral stability |journal= [[Nature Communications]] | doi = 10.1038/s41467-021-21336-8 |first1= Yannic C. |last1= Bartsch |first2= Stephanie |last2= Fischinger |first3=  Sameed M. |last3= Siddiqui  |first4= Zhilin |last4= Chen |first5= Jingyou |last5= Yu |first6= Makda |last6= Gebre |first7= Caroline |last7= Atyeo |first8= Matthew J. |last8= Gorman |first9= Alex Lee |last9= Zhu |first10= Jaewon |last10= Kang |first11= John S. |last11= Burke |first12= Matthew |last12= Slein |first13= Matthew J. |last13= Gluck |first14= Samuel |last14= Beger |first15= Yiyuan |last15= Hu |first16=Justin |last16= Rhee |first17= Eric |last17= Petersen |first18= Benjamin |last18= Mormann |first19= Michael |last19= de St Aubin |first20= Mohammad A. |last20= Hasdianda |first21= Guruprasad |last21= Jambaulikar |first22=Edward W. |last22= Boyer |first23=Pardis C. |last23= Sabeti |author-link23= Pardis Sabeti |first24= Dan H. |last24= Barouch |author-link24= Dan Barouch |first25= Boris D. |last25= Julg |first26= Elon R. |last26= Musk |first27= Anil S. |last27= Menon |first28= Douglas A. |last28= Lauffenburger |author-link28= Doug Lauffenburger |first29= Eric J. |last29= Nilles |first30= Galit |last30= Alter |author-link30= Galit Alter |date=February 15, 2021 |volume= 12 |issue= 1 |page= 1018 |pmid= 33589636 |pmc= 7884400 |bibcode= 2021NatCo..12.1018B |doi-access= free }}</ref>
 
=== Canada convoy protest ===
 
{{Tweet
| text = Canadian truckers rule
| name = Elon Musk
| username = elonmusk
| image = Elon Musk Royal Society (crop1).jpg
| date = January 27, 2022
| ID = 1486772334635536395
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220127184537/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1486772334635536395
| archive-date = January 27, 2022
| url-status = live
| width = 320px
}}
 
On January 27, 2022, Musk tweeted "Canadian truckers rule," praising the [[Canada convoy protest]] against [[COVID-19 vaccine]] mandates.<ref>{{cite news |title=Anti-vaccine Canada truckers roll toward Ottawa, praised by Tesla's Musk |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/anti-vaccine-canada-truckers-roll-toward-ottawa-praised-by-teslas-musk-2022-01-27/ |access-date=27 April 2022 |agency=Reuters |date=27 January 2022}}</ref> Three days later, Musk wrote in a Tweet, "If Canadian government is suppressing peaceful protests, that's where fascism lies."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Neate |first1=Rupert |title=Elon Musk criticised for likening Justin Trudeau to Adolf Hitler in tweet |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/feb/17/elon-musk-criticised-for-comparing-justin-trudeau-to-adolf-hitler-tweet-auschwitz |access-date=27 April 2022 |publisher=The Guardian |date=17 February 2022}}</ref> Later on the same day, Musk tweeted an image of the truck convoy with the caption, "Taking a break from politics for a while. Here's a nice photo of trucks.<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Elon Musk |user=elonmusk |number=1487842692704862214 |date=30 January 2022 |title=Taking a break from politics for a while. Here's a nice photo of trucks. |link=https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1487842692704862214 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130173856/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1487842692704862214 |archive-date=30 January 2022 }}</ref>
 
In February 2022, apparently supporting the convoy protesters, Musk tweeted and later deleted a meme comparing Canadian Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]] to [[Adolf Hitler]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Elon Musk tweets, then deletes, meme comparing Trudeau to Hitler |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/elon-musk-tweets-then-deletes-meme-comparing-trudeau-hitler-2022-02-17/ |access-date=27 April 2022 |agency=Reuters |date=17 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217223330/https://www.reuters.com/world/elon-musk-tweets-then-deletes-meme-comparing-trudeau-hitler-2022-02-17/|archive-date=17 February 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> Trudeau's government had recently ordered Canadian banks to cut funding to the convoy protesters. The [[Auschwitz Museum]] accused Musk of exploiting the tragedy of [[the Holocaust]], and the [[American Jewish Committee]] demanded an apology.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Neate |first1=Rupert |title=Elon Musk criticised for likening Justin Trudeau to Adolf Hitler in tweet |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/feb/17/elon-musk-criticised-for-comparing-justin-trudeau-to-adolf-hitler-tweet-auschwitz |access-date=27 April 2022 |publisher=The Guardian |date=17 February 2022}}</ref>
 
=== Gender identity ===
 
In July 2020, Musk tweeted "[[Preferred gender pronoun|Pronouns]] suck" to significant backlash on Twitter, including from his partner [[Grimes]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Langford|first1=Jackson|title=Grimes tells Elon Musk that she 'cannot support hate' after he tweets 'pronouns suck'|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/grimes-tells-elon-musk-that-she-cannot-support-hate-after-he-tweets-pronouns-suck-2714960?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=grimes-tells-elon-musk-that-she-cannot-support-hate-after-he-tweets-pronouns-suck&|website=NME|date=July 25, 2020|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=July 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725080816/https://www.nme.com/news/music/grimes-tells-elon-musk-that-she-cannot-support-hate-after-he-tweets-pronouns-suck-2714960?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=grimes-tells-elon-musk-that-she-cannot-support-hate-after-he-tweets-pronouns-suck&|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kirkpatrick|first=Emily|date=July 27, 2020|title=Grimes Told Elon Musk to Turn Off His Phone After Tweeting That "Pronouns Suck"|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/07/elon-musk-grimes-pronouns-twitter-johnny-depp-cage-fight|magazine=Vanity Fair|access-date=January 12, 2021|archive-date=January 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121020830/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/07/elon-musk-grimes-pronouns-twitter-johnny-depp-cage-fight|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=O'Connor|first=Roisin|date=July 25, 2020|title=Grimes tells Elon Musk 'turn off your phone' after Tesla CEO's gender pronouns tweet|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/grimes-elon-musk-gender-pronoun-tweet-a9637401.html|work=[[The Independent]] | access-date=January 14, 2021|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107195012/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/grimes-elon-musk-gender-pronoun-tweet-a9637401.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The tweet has been perceived by some as [[transphobic]] and an attack on [[non-binary]] [[gender identity|gender identities]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 28, 2020|title=Elon Musk's Transphobia on Twitter Is Not a Joke|url=https://observer.com/2020/07/elon-musk-grimes-twitter-transphobia-pronouns-suck/|access-date=August 4, 2020|website=Observer|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809080951/https://observer.com/2020/07/elon-musk-grimes-twitter-transphobia-pronouns-suck/|url-status=live}}</ref> In a series of December 2020 tweets, Musk again mocked the use of preferred gender pronouns. The [[Human Rights Campaign]], which had previously given Tesla the number one ranking on its [[Corporate Equality Index]], criticized his tweets and called for an apology.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kolodny|first=Lora|date=December 17, 2020|title=Elon Musk should apologize for mocking gender pronouns, says group that gave Tesla top LGBTQ-friendly rating|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/17/elon-musk-should-apologize-for-mocking-gender-pronouns-says-hrc.html|work=[[CNBC]] | access-date=December 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104080931/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/17/elon-musk-should-apologize-for-mocking-gender-pronouns-says-hrc.html|archive-date=January 4, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Harevy|first=Josephine|date=December 16, 2020|title=Elon Musk Skewered For Tweet Complaining About Pronouns In Bios|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/elon-musk-pronouns-reaction_n_5fda9048c5b6102009874312|work=[[The Huffington Post]] | access-date=January 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112200005/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/elon-musk-pronouns-reaction_n_5fda9048c5b6102009874312|archive-date=January 12, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
=== Public transportation ===
 
Despite his companies' dealing in various areas of transportation, Musk has criticized [[public transport]]ation,<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/dec/21/elon-musk-public-transport-transit-painful-twitter|title='I met my wife on a train platform': Twitter responds to Elon Musk with positive public transport stories|last=Hunt|first=Elle|date=December 21, 2017|work=[[The Guardian]] | access-date=December 23, 2017|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=March 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314203855/https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/dec/21/elon-musk-public-transport-transit-painful-twitter|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-awkward-dislike-mass-transit/|title=Elon Musk Really Doesn't Like Mass Transit Systems He's Trying to Build|last=Marshall|first=Aarian|date=December 14, 2017|magazine=Wired|access-date=December 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022163753/https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-awkward-dislike-mass-transit/|archive-date=October 22, 2020}}</ref> a stance that has been called [[Elitism|elitist]], as public modes of transportation provide service for all persons, while cars can be used only by those who own or rent and can drive them.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|last=Brown|first=Mike|date=December 15, 2017|title=Elon Musk Sparks Heated Twitter Debate Over Boring Company's Vision|work=Inverse|url=https://www.inverse.com/article/39433-elon-musk-sparks-heated-twitter-debate-over-boring-company-s-vision|access-date=December 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010075635/https://www.inverse.com/article/39433-elon-musk-sparks-heated-twitter-debate-over-boring-company-s-vision|archive-date=October 10, 2020}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite book|last=Vuchic|first=Vukan R.|title=Urban Public Transportation System|date=April 26, 2012|chapter=Ensuring Sustainability Through Mass Transit|chapter-url=https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/40717%28148%2942|language=EN|pages=483–489|doi=10.1061/40717(148)42|isbn=978-0-7844-0717-2}}</ref> In December 2017, in response to an audience question about his take on public transit and urban sprawl, at a Tesla event on the sidelines of the Neural Information Processing Systems Conference in Long Beach, California, Musk remarked:<ref>{{Cite news|last=Marshall|first=Aarian|title=Elon Musk Really Doesn't Like Mass Transit Systems He's Trying to Build|language=en-US|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-awkward-dislike-mass-transit/|access-date=December 22, 2021|issn=1059-1028}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Sampson|first=Rich|title=What Elon Musk doesn't understand about public transit hurts everyone|url=https://qz.com/1165724/elon-musks-comments-about-public-transit-hurts-everyone/|access-date=December 22, 2021|website=Quartz|language=en}}</ref>
 
{{Blockquote|text="There is this premise that good things must be somehow painful. I think public transport is painful. It sucks. Why do you want to get on something with a lot of other people, that doesn't leave where you want it to leave, doesn't start where you want it to start, doesn't end where you want it to end? And it doesn't go all the time."
 
"It's a pain in the ass, that's why everyone doesn't like it. And there's like a bunch of random strangers, one of who might be a serial killer, OK, great. And so that's why people like individualized transport, that goes where you want, when you want."
 
When the audience member responded that public transportation seemed to work in Japan, Musk shot back, "What, where they cram people in the subway? That doesn't sound great."}}
 
His comments have sparked widespread criticism from both transportation and [[urban planning]] experts, which have pointed out that public transportation in dense [[urban area]]s is more economical, more energy efficient and requires much less space than private cars.<ref>{{cite news|last=LeVine|first=Steve|date=December 28, 2017|title=Elon Musk's mean Twitter persona|work=Axios|url=https://www.axios.com/elon-musks-mean-twitter-persona-2519102985.html|url-status=live|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229113747/https://www.axios.com/elon-musks-mean-twitter-persona-2519102985.html|archive-date=December 29, 2017}}</ref><ref name="guardian54">{{cite news|last=Hunt|first=Elle|date=December 21, 2017|title='I met my wife on a train platform': Twitter responds to Elon Musk with positive public transport stories|work=[[The Guardian]] | location=London|url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/dec/21/elon-musk-public-transport-transit-painful-twitter|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827033023/https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/dec/21/elon-musk-public-transport-transit-painful-twitter|archive-date=August 27, 2020}}</ref><ref name=":14" />
 
=== Free market ===
 
Musk has stated that he does not believe the U.S. government should provide [[subsidies]] to companies; instead they should use a [[carbon tax]] to discourage poor behavior.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kolodny|first=Lora|date=October 8, 2021|title=Elon Musk endorses a carbon tax, downplays concerns about methane|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/07/elon-musk-endorses-carbon-tax-at-tesla-shareholder-meeting.html|access-date=December 22, 2021|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Clifford|first=Catherine|date=February 12, 2021|title=Elon Musk: 'My top recommendation' for reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a carbon tax|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/12/elon-musk-reducing-greenhouse-gas-emissions-with-a-carbon-tax.html|access-date=December 22, 2021|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref> Musk says that the [[free market]] would achieve the best solution, and that producing environmentally unfriendly vehicles should come with its own consequences.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://qz.com/564782/elon-musk-says-tax-free-carbon-is-the-dumbest-experiment-in-history/|title=Elon Musk says tax-free carbon is "the dumbest experiment in history"|last1=Werber|first1=Cassie|work=Quartz|access-date=August 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826161408/https://qz.com/564782/elon-musk-says-tax-free-carbon-is-the-dumbest-experiment-in-history/|archive-date=August 26, 2020}}</ref> His stance has been called hypocritical as his businesses have received billions of dollars in subsidies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/10/tesla-motors-free-ride-elon-musk-government-subsidies|title=Taxpayer Subsidies Helped Tesla Motors, So Why Does Elon Musk Slam Them?|website=Mother Jones|access-date=April 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616165121/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/10/tesla-motors-free-ride-elon-musk-government-subsidies/|archive-date=June 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lalljee|first=Jason|date=December 15, 2021|title=Elon Musk is speaking out against government subsidies. Here's a list of the billions of dollars his businesses have received.|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-list-government-subsidies-tesla-billions-spacex-solarcity-2021-12|url-status=live|access-date=December 22, 2021|website=Business Insider|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215140920/https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-list-government-subsidies-tesla-billions-spacex-solarcity-2021-12 |archive-date=December 15, 2021 }}</ref> In addition, Tesla made large sums from government-initiated systems of zero emissions credits offered in [[Government incentives for plug-in electric vehicles#California|California]] and the [[Plug-in electric vehicles in the United States#Government support|United States federal level]], which enabled improved initial consumer adoption of Tesla vehicles, as the [[tax credit]]s given by governments enabled Tesla's [[battery electric vehicle]]s to be price-competitive, in relative comparison with existing lower-priced [[internal combustion engine]] vehicles.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Plumer|first=Brad|date=July 8, 2017|title=When Will Electric Cars Go Mainstream? It May Be Sooner Than You Think|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/08/climate/electric-cars-batteries.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708071840/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/08/climate/electric-cars-batteries.html |archive-date=July 8, 2017 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=December 22, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Notably, Tesla generates a sizeable portion of its revenue from its sales of [[carbon credit]]s granted to the company, by both the [[European Union Emissions Trading System]] and the [[Chinese national carbon trading scheme]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kharpal|first=Arjun|date=May 18, 2021|title=What 'regulatory credits' are — and why they're so important to Tesla|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/18/tesla-electric-vehicle-regulatory-credits-explained.html|access-date=December 22, 2021|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=In struggle to meet EU rule, automakers turn to Tesla for credits|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Automobiles/In-struggle-to-meet-EU-rule-automakers-turn-to-Tesla-for-credits|access-date=December 22, 2021|website=Nikkei Asia|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=April 8, 2019|title=Fiat Chrysler to pay Tesla for CO2 emissions credits|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/electric-cars/news/fiat-chrysler-to-pay-tesla-for-co2-emissions-credits/|access-date=December 22, 2021|website=www.euractiv.com|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=April 5, 2021|title=Volkswagen to buy CO2 credits from Tesla in China|url=https://www.electrive.com/2021/04/05/volkswagen-to-buy-co2-credits-from-tesla-in-china/|access-date=December 22, 2021|website=electrive.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
 
=== Trading ===
 
Musk, a longtime opponent of [[Short (finance)|short-selling]], has repeatedly criticized the practice and argued it should be illegal.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stewart|first=Jack|date=October 6, 2018|title=What Are Shorts and Why Does Elon Hate Them?|url=https://www.wired.com/story/what-are-short-sellers-and-why-does-elon-hate-them/|magazine=Wired|access-date=March 6, 2021|archive-date=January 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129003324/https://www.wired.com/story/what-are-short-sellers-and-why-does-elon-hate-them/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Graziosi|first=Graig|date=January 29, 2021|title=Elon Musk lashes out at short sellers during GameStop market war|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/elon-musk-short-sellers-gamestop-b1794444.html|work=[[The Independent]] | access-date=March 6, 2021|archive-date=January 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129040712/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/elon-musk-short-sellers-gamestop-b1794444.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Musk's opposition to short-selling has been speculated to stem from how short-sellers often organize and publish [[opposition research]] about the companies that they believe are currently overvalued.<ref>{{Cite news|title=What Are Shorts and Why Does Elon Musk Hate Them?|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/what-are-short-sellers-and-why-does-elon-hate-them/|access-date=May 19, 2021|issn=1059-1028}}</ref> In early 2021, he encouraged the [[GameStop short squeeze]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Levine|first=Matt|date=February 4, 2021|title=Who's Winning the GameStop Game?|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-02-04/elon-musk-s-gamestop-tweets-are-now-a-hedge-fund-signal|work=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]] | access-date=February 4, 2021|archive-date=February 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205070028/https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-02-04/elon-musk-s-gamestop-tweets-are-now-a-hedge-fund-signal|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Gelles|first=David|date=January 29, 2021|title=Elon Musk Becomes Unlikely Anti-Establishment Hero in GameStop Saga|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/29/business/elon-musk-gamestop-twitter.html|work=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=February 4, 2021|archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204130926/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/29/business/elon-musk-gamestop-twitter.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Musk has also regularly promoted [[Cryptocurrency|cryptocurrencies]], stating that he supports them over traditional [[Fiat money|government-issued fiat currencies]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 22, 2021|title=Musk says he supports crypto in battle with fiat money|url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/musk-says-he-supports-crypto-battle-with-fiat-money-2021-05-22/|access-date=May 31, 2021|website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Given the volatile effects that his tweets about them have,<ref>{{Cite ssrn|last=Ante|first=Lennart|date=February 3, 2021|title=How Elon Musk's Twitter Activity Moves Cryptocurrency Markets|ssrn=3778844}}</ref> his statements around cryptocurrencies have been viewed as market manipulations by critics such as [[Nouriel Roubini]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=SEC Should Monitor Tesla's Elon Musk for Market Manipulation: Roubini|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sec-monitor-tesla-elon-musk-063109452.html|access-date=May 31, 2021|website=finance.yahoo.com}}</ref>
 
=== Population ===
 
Musk has voiced concerns about human [[population decline]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Elon Musk doubled down on his theory that the world population is headed for collapse |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-reiterates-global-population-is-headed-for-collapse-2019-6 |work=Business Insider |date=June 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Population decline and smaller families good news for climate, says former head of FSA |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/fsa-population-decline-climate-change-b1934877.html |work=The Independent |date=October 18, 2021}}</ref> saying that "Mars has zero human population. We need a lot of people to become a multiplanet civilization."<ref>{{cite news |title=Elon Musk claims population collapse 'potentially the greatest risk to the future of civilization' |url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/elon-musk-claims-population-collapse-21176445 |work=CambridgeshireLive |date=July 29, 2021}}</ref> Speaking at ''The Wall Street Journal''<nowiki/>'s CEO Council session in December 2021, Musk stated that declining [[birth rate]]s and population is one of the biggest [[Potential sources of global catastrophic risk|risks to human civilization]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Elon Musk says there aren't 'enough people,' birthrate could threaten human civilization |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2021/12/07/elon-musk-declining-birthrate-threatens-human-civilization/6414749001/ |work=USA Today |date=December 7, 2021}}</ref>
 
=== Taxation ===
 
In a December 2021 interview with [[Christian right|Christian conservative]] satirical website ''[[The Babylon Bee]]'', Musk lamented that it was "increasingly difficult to get things done" in California. Musk had sold enough to reach his goal of selling 10% of his shares in Tesla (then the world's most valuable car company), partially to pay taxes, and relocated his personal and Tesla's [[tax residence]] from [[California]] to [[Texas]] in order to avoid [[state income tax]]. Musk said that "California used to be the land of opportunity and now it is... becoming more so the land of sort of overregulation, overlitigation, overtaxation."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Jin|first=Hyunjoo|date=December 22, 2021|title=Tesla's Musk says he sold 'enough stock'; slams California for 'overtaxation'|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/teslas-musk-says-he-sold-enough-stock-slams-california-overtaxation-2021-12-22/|access-date=December 22, 2021}}</ref> In the same interview, he stated, "At its heart [[wokeness]] is divisive, exclusionary, and hateful. It basically gives mean people... a shield to be mean and cruel, armored in false virtue."<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKhNBSNoGbQ 'Elon Musk says woke culture wants to outlaw comedy'. December 24, 2021|access-date=January 1, 2022|</ref>
 
=== 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine ===
 
Musk condemned the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]] and announced measures to support Ukraine's defense, such as providing the country with free [[Starlink]] access, for which Ukrainian President [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] personally thanked Musk while announcing further talks between the two.<ref name="Ukraine-1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/zelensky-elon-musk-starlink-ukraine-a007ee15-7713-44e0-b677-e6c9e9d11d8e.html|title=Zelensky thanks Elon Musk for sending Starlink satellites to Ukraine|access-date=March 22, 2022|date=March 6, 2022|author=Ivana Saric|work=[[Axios (website)|Axios]]}}</ref><ref name="Ukraine-2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-zelensky-elon-musk-starlink-b2029650.html|title=Ukraine's Zelensky thanks Elon Musk for sending Starlink systems|access-date=March 22, 2022|date=March 6, 2022|author=Zoe Tidman|work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>
 
=== Free speech ===
 
{{Tweet
| text = Starlink has been told by some governments (not Ukraine) to block Russian news sources. We will not do so unless at gunpoint.
 
Sorry to be a free speech absolutist.
| name = Elon Musk
| username = elonmusk
| image = Elon Musk Royal Society (crop1).jpg
| date = March 4, 2022
| ID = 1499976967105433600
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220305051613/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1499976967105433600
| archive-date = March 5, 2022
| url-status = live
| width = 320px
}}
}}
'''Elon Reeve Musk''' {{postnominals|country=CAN|FRS}} (born June 28, 1971) is a [[South Africa]]n-[[Canadians|Canadian]]-[[Americans|American]] [[Businessperson|businessman]]. He was born in South Africa. He moved to [[Canada]] and later became a U.S. citizen. Musk is the current [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] & Chief Product Architect of [[Tesla, Inc.]], a company that makes [[electric vehicle]]s. He is also the CEO of [[Solar City]], a company that makes [[solar panel]]s, and the CEO & [[Chief technology officer|CTO]] of [[Space Exploration Technologies Corporation|SpaceX]], an aerospace company. In 2022, he became the owner of the social media site [[Twitter]] after buying it for [[United States dollar|USD]] $44 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Feiner |first=Lauren |date=2022-04-25 |title=Twitter accepts Elon Musk's buyout deal |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/25/twitter-accepts-elon-musks-buyout-deal.html |access-date=2022-04-25 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref>


After some governments had asked Starlink to block access to Russian news sources in response to the invasion of Ukraine, Musk identified himself as a "[[Freedom of speech|free speech]] absolutist" and said "we will not do so unless at gunpoint".<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=March 6, 2022 |title=SpaceX's Musk says Starlink has been told by some governments to block Russian news |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/spacexs-musk-says-starlink-has-been-told-by-some-governments-block-russian-news-2022-03-05/ |access-date=April 5, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=April 4, 2022 |title=Elon Musk buys 9.2 percent of Twitter amid complaints about free speech |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/4/23009622/elon-musk-twitter-shares-free-speech |access-date=April 5, 2022 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref>
In August 2020, [[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] ranked Musk third among the richest people on the planet with a net worth to be $198 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Musk Passes Zuckerberg to Become World's Third-Wealthiest Person|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-31/elon-musk-is-now-richer-than-mark-zuckerberg-on-tesla-surge|access-date=2020-10-02|website=www.bloomberg.com}}</ref> With a net worth of around US$255<!-- Do not update his net worth every day - stick to once a week at most. Last updated: 13 December 2021 --> billion as of December 2021,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Elon Musk|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/elon-musk/|website=[[Forbes]]}}</ref> Musk is the [[Bloomberg Billionaires Index|wealthiest person in the world]]. In 2021, he was [[Time Person of the Year]].
 
=== Technology ===
 
==== Unix versus Microsoft Windows ====
 
Soon after the merging of [[PayPal]], CEO Musk demanded migrating PayPal's infrastructure from [[Unix]] to [[Microsoft Windows]], against strong opposition. Unable to come to an agreement, the PayPal board ousted Musk in October 2000.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bradley |first1=Charile |title=Elon Musk’s business venture that ‘could’ve been biggest company on Earth’ revealed |url=https://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/1269300/elon-musk-news-billionaire-venture-biggest-company-on-earth-tesla-paypal-spt |access-date=27 April 2022 |publisher=Express |date=15 April 2020}}</ref>
 
==== Artificial intelligence ====


Musk has frequently spoken about the [[Existential risk from artificial general intelligence|potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI)]], repeatedly calling it the greatest threat to humanity.<ref name="guardianAI">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/27/elon-musk-artificial-intelligence-ai-biggest-existential-threat|title=Elon Musk: artificial intelligence is our biggest existential threat|first1=Samuel|last1=Gibbs|date=October 27, 2014|work=[[The Guardian]] | access-date=December 15, 2015|archive-date=October 30, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030054330/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/27/elon-musk-artificial-intelligence-ai-biggest-existential-threat}}</ref><ref name="wp2015">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/07/28/elon-musk-and-stephen-hawking-think-we-should-ban-killer-robots/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308074506/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/07/28/elon-musk-and-stephen-hawking-think-we-should-ban-killer-robots/ |title=Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking think we should ban killer robots |date=July 28, 2015 |archive-date=March 8, 2016 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | access-date=January 5, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Musk's opinions about AI have provoked controversy and have been criticized by experts such as [[Yann LeCun]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Shead|first=Sam|date=May 13, 2020|title=Elon Musk has a complex relationship with the A.I. community|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/13/elon-musk-has-a-complex-relationship-with-the-ai-community.html|work=[[CNBC]] | access-date=January 14, 2021|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111112156/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/13/elon-musk-has-a-complex-relationship-with-the-ai-community.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Holmes |first1=Aaron |title=Facebook's head of AI says Elon Musk 'has no idea what he is talking about' |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-ai-head-slams-elon-musk-2020-5 |website=[[Business Insider]] | access-date=March 25, 2022 |date=May 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Shead |first1=Sam |title=Elon Musk 'Nuts' To Call For AI Regulation, Says Facebook's Chief AI Scientist |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/samshead/2018/09/28/elon-musk-nuts-to-call-for-ai-regulation-says-facebooks-chief-ai-scientist/?sh=2bd48b7837ec |website=[[Forbes]] | access-date=March 25, 2022 |date=September 28, 2018}}</ref> Consequently, according to CNBC, Musk is "not always looked upon favorably" by the AI research community.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/13/elon-musk-has-a-complex-relationship-with-the-ai-community.html|title=Elon Musk has a complex relationship with the A.I. community|first=Sam|last=Shead|date=May 13, 2020|website=[[CNBC]] | access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111112156/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/13/elon-musk-has-a-complex-relationship-with-the-ai-community.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Mark Zuckerberg has clashed with Musk on the issue, with Zuckerberg calling his warnings "pretty irresponsible".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/24/mark-zuckerberg-elon-musks-doomsday-ai-predictions-are-irresponsible.html|title=Mark Zuckerberg: Elon Musk's doomsday AI predictions are irresponsible|last=Clifford|first=Catherine|date=July 24, 2017|website=[[CNBC]] | access-date=April 26, 2019|archive-date=April 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426172639/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/24/mark-zuckerberg-elon-musks-doomsday-ai-predictions-are-irresponsible.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Solon|first=Olivia|date=July 25, 2017|title=Killer robots? Musk and Zuckerberg escalate row over dangers of AI|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jul/25/elon-musk-mark-zuckerberg-artificial-intelligence-facebook-tesla|work=[[The Guardian]] | access-date=January 14, 2021|archive-date=January 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130225903/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jul/25/elon-musk-mark-zuckerberg-artificial-intelligence-facebook-tesla|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Metz|first=Cade|date=June 9, 2018|title=Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and the Feud Over Killer Robots|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/09/technology/elon-musk-mark-zuckerberg-artificial-intelligence.html|work=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=January 14, 2021|archive-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215051949/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/09/technology/elon-musk-mark-zuckerberg-artificial-intelligence.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Musk's claims that [[Simulated reality#Simulation argument|humans live in a computer simulation]] have also been criticized.<ref>{{cite news|date=June 2, 2016|title=We are living in a computer simulation, Elon Musk says|newspaper=[[The Independent]] | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/elon-musk-ai-artificial-intelligence-computer-simulation-gaming-virtual-reality-a7060941.html|access-date=June 30, 2016|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907184834/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/elon-musk-ai-artificial-intelligence-computer-simulation-gaming-virtual-reality-a7060941.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Tobak|first=Steve|date=October 21, 2016|title=The Chances That Life Is Really a Computer Simulation|url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/the-chances-that-life-is-really-a-computer-simulation|access-date=July 5, 2020|website=FOX Business|archive-date=July 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705125845/https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/the-chances-that-life-is-really-a-computer-simulation|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Early life and career ==
Elon Musk and his brother started Zip2, a software company, in 1995. In 1999 he sold it and became a millionaire. He then started X.com, which merged with the company [[wikipedia:Confinity|Confinity]] to make [[PayPal]]. X.com was then renamed to PayPal, and he focused on growing the part of the company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/slideshow/Tesla-Motors-and-PayPal-co-founder-Elon-Musk-buys-54694.php|accessdate=2014-06-13|title=Tesla Motors and PayPal co-founder Elon Musk buys $17 million Bel Air mansion|date=January 4, 2013|publisher=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/business/billion_to_one/2013/11/solarcity_s_lyndon_rive_elon_musk_s_cousin_making_solar_panels_hot_again.html|accessdate=2014-06-13|title=Something New Under the Sun|date=November 5, 2013|publisher=Slate}}</ref> He then started SpaceX and became the CEO of Tesla.


==== Metaverse ====
He has [[Asperger syndrome]].


In December 2021, when prompted for his opinion about the [[virtual reality]] (VR) driven [[metaverse]], Musk said that he was "unable to see a compelling metaverse situation" and further remarked that "I think we're far from disappearing into the metaverse. This sounds just kind of buzzword-y. [...] Sure you can put a TV on your nose. I'm not sure that makes you 'in the metaverse'. [...] I don't see someone strapping a frigging screen to their face all day and not wanting to ever leave. That seems — no way."<ref>{{Cite web|last=GmbH|first=finanzen net|title=Elon Musk says the metaverse seems more like a marketing buzzword right now than a reality|url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/elon-musk-metaverse-is-a-marketing-buzzword-crypto-2021-12|access-date=December 22, 2021|website=markets.businessinsider.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Vincent|first=James|date=December 22, 2021|title=Elon Musk: metaverse isn't 'compelling' and Web3 'more marketing than reality'|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/22/22849717/elon-musk-metaverse-web3-more-marketing-than-reality|access-date=December 22, 2021|website=The Verge|language=en}}</ref>
Musk was born to a Canadian mother and a South African-born British father in [[Pretoria]], [[South Africa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2012/03/26/at-home-with-elon-musk-the-soon-to-be-bachelor-billionaire/|accessdate=2014-06-13|title=At Home With Elon Musk: The (Soon-to-Be) Bachelor Billionaire|work=Forbes}}</ref> His parents divorced in 1980 and he mainly lived with his father in many different places in South Africa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_25541126/rocket-man-otherworldy-ambitions-elon-musk|accessdate=2014-06-13|title=Rocket Man: The otherworldly ambitions of Elon Musk|work=[[San Jose Mercury News]]|date=April 10, 2014}}</ref> He went to Waterkloof House Preparatory School and graduated from Pretoria Boys High School. He then moved to Canada in 1988 when he was 17 after he obtained Canadian citizenship through his mother. He got it before his South African military service was to begin. He felt that it would be easier to
immigrate into the United States from Canada than from South Africa.


== Personal life ==
== Education ==
He spent two years at the Queen's School of Business in [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]], [[Ontario]]. He then transferred to the [[University of Pennsylvania]] where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the Wharton School. He stayed a year to finish his second bachelor's degree in physics. Then he moved to California to attempt to get a PhD in applied physics at [[Stanford University|Stanford]] but he left the program after only two days because he wanted to pursue his entrepreneurial aspirations (start businesses) in the Internet, renewable energy and outer space.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oninnovation.com/videos/detail.aspx?video=1259&title=Inspirations|accessdate=2014-06-13|title=Inspirations with Elon Musk|publisher=OnInnovation|archive-date=2016-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227190037/http://www.oninnovation.com/videos/detail.aspx?video=1259&title=Inspirations|url-status=dead}}</ref> He became an American citizen in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esquire.com/features/americans-2012/elon-musk-interview-1212|accessdate=2014-06-13|title=Triumph of His Will|date=November 15, 2012|publisher=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]}}</ref>


Musk met his first wife, Canadian author [[Justine Musk|Justine Wilson]], while attending Queen's University, and they married in 2000.<ref name=":9">{{cite web |last1=Durand Streisand |first1=Elizabeth |title=A Look at Elon Musk's Rocky Romantic History |url=https://www.yahoo.com/celebrity/blogs/celeb-news/elon-musk-love-life-romantic-history-171340935.html |website=Yahoo |access-date=May 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602025744/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blogs/celeb-news/elon-musk-love-life-romantic-history-171340935.html|archive-date=June 2, 2020}}</ref> He contracted [[malaria]] in 2000 while on vacation in South Africa, and nearly died.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Locke|first=Taylor|date=November 2, 2019|title=Why Elon Musk says taking 'vacations will kill you'|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/02/why-elon-musk-says-taking-vacations-will-kill-you.html|access-date=September 29, 2021|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref> In 2002, their first child, son Nevada Alexander Musk, died of [[sudden infant death syndrome]] (SIDS) at the age of 10 weeks.<ref name="sids">[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], p. 117.</ref> After his death, the couple decided to use [[In vitro fertilisation|IVF]] to continue their family.<ref name=holywoodlife2021>{{cite news|last=Crowley|first=James|date=September 14, 2021|title=Elon Musk's Kids: Meet His 6 Kids From Oldest To Youngest, & Their Moms|url=https://hollywoodlife.com/feature/elon-musk-kids-4516506/|work=Holywood Life|access-date=September 16, 2021}}</ref> Twins Xavier and Griffin were born in April 2004, followed by triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian in 2006.<ref name=holywoodlife2021 /> The couple divorced in 2008 and [[Joint custody (United States)|share custody]] of their five sons.<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Musk|first=Justine|date=September 10, 2010|title="I Was a Starter Wife": Inside America's Messiest Divorce|url=https://www.marieclaire.com/sex-love/a5380/millionaire-starter-wife/|work=Marie Claire|access-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730172806/https://www.marieclaire.com/sex-love/a5380/millionaire-starter-wife/|archive-date=July 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Musk|first=Elon|date=July 8, 2010|title=Elon Musk: Correcting The Record About My Divorce|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/correcting-the-record-about-my-divorce-2010-7|work=Business Insider|access-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722160506/https://www.businessinsider.com/correcting-the-record-about-my-divorce-2010-7|archive-date=July 22, 2020}}</ref>
== Projects ==
At the end of 2016, Musk founded [[The Boring Company]] which focuses on tunneling and infrastructure. He mentioned Los Angeles traffic as the reason for starting this company. In March 2017 Elon Musk announced he had started another company that aimed to merge human brains and computer called Neuralink.


In 2008, Musk began dating English actress [[Talulah Riley]].<ref>[[#Vance|Vance (2015)]], pp. 193-195.</ref> They married in September 2010 at [[Dornoch Cathedral]] in Scotland.<ref name=marriage>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/21/elon-musk-talulah-riley-file-divorce-second-marriage|title=Actor Talulah Riley files to divorce billionaire Elon Musk, again|date=March 21, 2016|access-date=April 20, 2016|quote="The pair first married in 2010 and divorced in 2012. They remarried 18 months later."|agency=[[Associated Press]] | newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Alan |last=Boyle|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/science/spacexs-millionaire-founder-tweets-about-marital-split-6C10402497|title=SpaceX's millionaire founder tweets about marital split|publisher=NBC News|date=January 18, 2012|access-date=September 28, 2013}}</ref> In 2012, he announced a divorce from Riley.<ref name=forbes20120326>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2012/03/26/at-home-with-elon-musk-the-soon-to-be-bachelor-billionaire |title=At Home With Elon Musk: The (Soon-to-Be) Bachelor Billionaire |date=March 3, 2012 |work=Forbes |first=Hannah |last=Elliott |access-date=August 12, 2013 |archive-date=August 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804184102/http://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2012/03/26/at-home-with-elon-musk-the-soon-to-be-bachelor-billionaire/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Elon Musk Divorce: Announces Split From Talulah Riley On Twitter |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/19/elon-musk-divorce_n_1216394.html |access-date=July 23, 2013 |work=[[The Huffington Post]] | date=January 19, 2012 |first=Jennifer |last=Lai|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603104622/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/19/elon-musk-divorce_n_1216394.html|archive-date=June 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/19/elon-musk-divorce_n_1216394.html "Elon Musk Divorce: Announces Split From Talulah Riley On Twitter"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118202528/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/19/elon-musk-divorce_n_1216394.html |date=November 18, 2017 }}, ''[[The Huffington Post]]'', January 19, 2012.</ref> In 2013, Musk and Riley remarried. In December 2014, he filed for a second divorce from Riley; however, the action was withdrawn.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/22/elon-musk-and-talulah-riley-divorce-for-a-second-time/|title=Elon Musk and Talulah Riley divorce for a second time|date=October 22, 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=June 29, 2018|issn=0307-1235|archive-date=June 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630004337/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/22/elon-musk-and-talulah-riley-divorce-for-a-second-time/|url-status=live}}</ref> A second divorce was finalized in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://people.com/movies/elon-musk-and-talulah-riley-divorced/ |title=Elon Musk and Talulah Riley Are Divorced for a Second Time |website=People |date=November 18, 2016 |access-date=April 24, 2017 |first=Lindsay |last=Kimble |archive-date=September 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908185659/http://people.com/movies/elon-musk-and-talulah-riley-divorced/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Musk then dated [[Amber Heard]] for several months in 2017;<ref>{{cite news|last=Jensen|first=Erin|date=April 24, 2017|title=Amber Heard, Elon Musk make 'Cheeky' public debut together|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/04/24/amber-heard-elon-musk-dating-public-debut-instagram-posts/100834568/|work=USA Today|access-date=January 28, 2021|archive-date=January 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130231024/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/04/24/amber-heard-elon-musk-dating-public-debut-instagram-posts/100834568/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="hollywood">{{cite news|last=Sigel|first=Tatiana|date=December 6, 2018|title=Amber Heard on Her Secret Passion, Elon Musk and a Splashy New Role|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/amber-heard-aquaman-elon-musk-dedication-activism-1166004|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=January 28, 2021|archive-date=December 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206185106/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/amber-heard-aquaman-elon-musk-dedication-activism-1166004|url-status=live}}</ref> he had reportedly been pursuing her since 2012.<ref name="hollywood" /> Musk was later accused by [[Johnny Depp]] of having an affair with Heard while she was still married to Depp.<ref>{{cite news|last=Holden|first=Michael|date=July 21, 2020|title=Actress Heard denies Depp claim of affair with Elon Musk|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/britain-people-depp/actress-heard-denies-depp-claim-of-affair-with-elon-musk-idINL5N2ES36F|work=Reuters|access-date=January 30, 2021|archive-date=January 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130231024/https://www.reuters.com/article/britain-people-depp/actress-heard-denies-depp-claim-of-affair-with-elon-musk-idINL5N2ES36F|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bradley|first=Laura|date=July 18, 2020|title=Amber Heard Accused of Having Late-Night Meetups With Elon Musk in Johnny Depp Trial|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/amber-heard-accused-of-having-late-night-meetups-with-elon-musk-in-johnny-depp-trial?ref=scroll|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=January 30, 2021|archive-date=January 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130231041/https://www.thedailybeast.com/amber-heard-accused-of-having-late-night-meetups-with-elon-musk-in-johnny-depp-trial?ref=scroll|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Brown|first=David|date=February 12, 2021|title=Johnny Depp drags Elon Musk into Amber Heard libel saga|language=en|work=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/johnny-depp-drags-elon-musk-into-amber-heard-libel-saga-bhpcjqd2t|access-date=September 5, 2021|issn=0140-0460}}</ref> Musk and Heard both denied the affair.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Holden|first=Michael|date=July 21, 2020|title=Actress Heard denies Depp claim of affair with Elon Musk|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/britain-people-depp-idINL5N2ES36F|access-date=September 5, 2021}}</ref>
As of April 2016, he was worth over $10 billion, making him the 37th most wealthy American.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/elon-musk/?list=billionaires|title=List of billionaires|work=Forbes|accessdate=May 1, 2016}}</ref> Musk is also known for helping design and create the [[Falcon Heavy]] rocket, which successfully launched on February 6, 2018.


In May 2018, Musk and Canadian musician [[Grimes (musician)|Grimes]] revealed that they were dating.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/05/grimes-is-dating-elon-musk-report/|title=Grimes is dating Elon Musk|date=May 7, 2018|work=Consequence of Sound|access-date=May 8, 2018|archive-date=April 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421021141/https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/05/grimes-is-dating-elon-musk-report/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first=Jordan|last=Darville|title=Grimes talks new music, Elon Musk, plans to publicly execute her musical persona|url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/03/20/grimes-interview-miss-anthropocene|magazine=[[The Fader]] | date=March 20, 2019|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=October 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030070534/http://www.thefader.com/2019/03/20/grimes-interview-miss-anthropocene|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-game-awards-grimes-cyberpunk-2077-2019-12|title=Elon Musk made a surprise appearance at one of the biggest gaming events of the year to support his girlfriend, Grimes|last=Antonelli|first=William|date=December 14, 2019|website=Business Insider|language=de-DE|access-date=December 14, 2019|archive-date=May 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514135605/https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-game-awards-grimes-cyberpunk-2077-2019-12|url-status=live}}</ref> Grimes gave birth to their son in May 2020.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kiefer|first=Halle|title=Grimes and Elon Musk's Baby Has Arrived, Just As Legend Foretold|date=May 4, 2020|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/05/elon-musk-and-grimes-welcome-first-baby-together.html|website=Vulture|access-date=May 5, 2020|url-access=limited|archive-date=May 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505021026/https://www.vulture.com/2020/05/elon-musk-and-grimes-welcome-first-baby-together.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Trepany|first=Charles|title=Elon Musk shares first photo of his and Grimes' new baby boy: 'Mom and baby all good'|date=May 5, 2020|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/05/05/elon-musk-grimes-welcome-baby/3082615001/|work=USA Today|access-date=May 5, 2020|archive-date=May 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529124947/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/05/05/elon-musk-grimes-welcome-baby/3082615001/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Musk and Grimes, his name was {{nowrap|"X Æ A-12"}}<!-- Per the source "A-12" is derived from the [[Lockheed A-12]] aircraft -- hence a hyphen is the correct markup for the name-->; however, the name would have violated California regulations as it contained characters that are not in the modern English alphabet,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schwedel |first1=Heather |title=What Does Elon Musk and Grimes' Baby Name Actually Mean? |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/05/elon-musk-grimes-baby-name.html |access-date=May 5, 2020 |work=Slate Magazine |date=May 5, 2020 |archive-date=May 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524150019/https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/05/elon-musk-grimes-baby-name.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Lerman|first=Rachel|date=May 8, 2020|title=Elon Musk's baby name isn't just weird, it may be against California regulations|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/05/08/musk-grimes-baby-name/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | access-date=January 11, 2021|archive-date=December 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231225820/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/05/08/musk-grimes-baby-name/|url-status=live}}</ref> and was then changed to {{nowrap|"X Æ A-Xii"}}. This drew more confusion, as [[Æ]] is not a letter in the modern English alphabet.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Elon Musk and Grimes have changed their baby's name. A bit|first=Jack|last=Guy|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/25/entertainment/grimes-musk-baby-name-tweak-scli-intl/index.html|website=[[CNN]] | date=May 25, 2020|access-date=May 25, 2020|archive-date=May 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525204407/https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/25/entertainment/grimes-musk-baby-name-tweak-scli-intl/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The child was eventually named {{nowrap|"X AE A-XII"}} Musk, with "X" as a [[first name]], {{nowrap|"AE A-XII"}} as a [[middle name]], and "Musk" as [[surname]].<ref name="xaea-xii.cnet">{{cite web|last=Cooper|first=Gael Fashingbauer|date=June 16, 2020|title=Elon Musk and Grimes saved a surprise for son X Æ A-12's birth certificate|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musk-and-grimes-saved-a-surprise-for-son-x-ae-a-12s-birth-certificate/|publisher=[[CNET]] | access-date=June 17, 2020|archive-date=June 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617021513/https://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musk-and-grimes-saved-a-surprise-for-son-x-ae-a-12s-birth-certificate/|url-status=live}}</ref> Musk confirmed reports that the couple are "semi-separated" in September 2021; in an interview with [[Time (magazine)|''Time'']] in December 2021, he said he was single.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ivie|first=Devon|date=September 24, 2021|title=Elon Musk and Grimes Took the Red Pill and Broke Up|url=https://www.vulture.com/2021/09/elon-musk-and-grimes-break-up-after-3-years-together.html|work=Vulture|access-date=September 28, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924171854/https://www.vulture.com/2021/09/elon-musk-and-grimes-break-up-after-3-years-together.html|archive-date=September 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=September 24, 2021|title=Elon Musk says he and partner Grimes are semi-separated|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58684724|access-date=September 28, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hartmans|first=Avery|title=Elon Musk says he's single and basically living in a 'technology monastery' following his split with Grimes|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-single-grimes-breakup-2021-12|access-date=December 16, 2021|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}}</ref> In March 2022, Grimes said of her relationship with Musk: "I would probably refer to him as my boyfriend, but we're very fluid." She further revealed that their first daughter, Exa Dark Sideræl Musk, nicknamed Y, was born in December 2021 via [[surrogacy|surrogate]].<ref name="GrimesVanityFair2022">{{cite magazine|first=Devin|last=Gordon|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/03/grimes-cover-story-on-music-and-mars|title="Infamy Is Kind Of Fun": Grimes on Music, Mars, and—Surprise!—Her Secret New Baby With Elon Musk|magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] | date=March 10, 2022|access-date=March 10, 2022|publisher=[[Condé Nast]]}}</ref> Later that month, Grimes tweeted that she and Musk had broken up again "but he's my best friend and the love of my life."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-03-11/grimes-elon-musk-relationship-breakup-split | title=Never mind that new baby: Grimes and Elon Musk have broken up again, she says | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=March 11, 2022 | accessdate=March 14, 2022 | author=D'Zurilla, Christie}}</ref>
== Related pages ==
* [[PayPal]]
* [[SpaceX]]
* [[Tesla Motors]]
* [[Twitter]]


From the early 2000s until late 2020, Musk resided in California where both Tesla and SpaceX were founded and where their headquarters are still located.<!-- SpaceX is in Hawthorne, LA area of California; Tesla is in Fremont, San Jose area of California. So they are not both in the Los Angeles area --><ref name=bloomberg20201208>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-08/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-says-he-has-relocated-to-texas|title=Musk Relocates to Texas, Criticizes 'Complacent' California|work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]News|date=December 8, 2020|access-date=December 9, 2020|archive-date=December 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210145135/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-08/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-says-he-has-relocated-to-texas|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, he moved to Texas, stating that California had become "complacent" with its economic success.<ref name=bloomberg20201208 /><ref>{{cite news|last=Somerville|first=Heather|date=December 8, 2020|title=Elon Musk Moves to Texas, Takes Jab at Silicon Valley|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-to-discuss-teslas-banner-year-despite-pandemic-silicon-valleys-future-11607449988|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=December 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212234036/https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-to-discuss-teslas-banner-year-despite-pandemic-silicon-valleys-future-11607449988|url-status=live}}</ref> During his hosting of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' in May 2021, Musk stated that he has [[Asperger syndrome]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Yahr|first=Emily|date=May 8, 2021|title=Elon Musk reveals he has Asperger's syndrome during SNL monologue|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/05/09/elon-musk-hosts-snl/|access-date=May 9, 2021|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}


== Public recognition ==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{twitter|elonmusk}}
* [https://www.forbes.com/profile/elon-musk/ Forbes profile]


=== In popular culture ===
{{authority control}}
 
{{Time Persons of the Year 2001–2025}}
{{Main|Elon Musk in popular culture}}
Musk has made multiple cameos and appearances in films such as ''[[Iron Man 2]]'' (2010),<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Tate|first1=Ryan|title=10 Awkward Hollywood Cameos by Tech Founders|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/09/founders-awkward-hollywood-cameos/|magazine=Wired|date=September 20, 2012|access-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201034116/https://www.wired.com/2012/09/founders-awkward-hollywood-cameos/|archive-date=December 1, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Machete Kills]]'' (2013),<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wurzburger |first1=Andrea |title=Ahead Elon Musk's Acting Cameos Through the Years |url=https://people.com/tv/elon-musk-snl-acting-cameos/?slide=8faa5caf-b18a-43c8-9982-e12a37846603#8faa5caf-b18a-43c8-9982-e12a37846603 |access-date=April 27, 2022 |work=People |date=May 8, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> ''[[Why Him?]]'' (2016),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/video/286858 |title='Why Him?' Director on Elon Musk's Amazing 'I Can't Come to Work Today' Excuse |first=Dan |last=Bova |date= December 21, 2016|website=Entrepreneur|access-date=January 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826161409/https://www.entrepreneur.com/video/286858|archive-date=August 26, 2020}}</ref> and ''[[Men in Black: International]]'' (2019).<ref>{{cite news|last=Alexander|first=Bryan|date=June 17, 2019|title=Which celebrities are revealed as space aliens in 'Men in Black: International'? (spoilers)|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2019/06/17/men-black-international-reveals-celebrity-aliens-spoilers/1459811001/|work=USA Today|access-date=January 19, 2021|archive-date=February 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205152713/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2019/06/17/men-black-international-reveals-celebrity-aliens-spoilers/1459811001/|url-status=live}}</ref> Television series on which he has appeared include ''[[The Simpsons]]'' ("[[The Musk Who Fell to Earth]]", 2015),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-tesla-on-the-simpsons-2015-1 |title=Elon Musk SpaceX Tesla on the Simpsons |date=January 27, 2015 |website=Business Insider |access-date=April 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527154152/https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-tesla-on-the-simpsons-2015-1|archive-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref> ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'' ("[[The Platonic Permutation]]", 2015),<ref>{{cite web|title=Tesla CEO Elon Musk To Appear on Upcoming Episode of the Big Bang Theory|url=http://www.cbs.com/shows/big_bang_theory/news/1004869/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-to-appear-on-upcoming-episode-of-the-big-bang-theory/|website=CBS|access-date=December 4, 2015|archive-date=February 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223001910/http://www.cbs.com/shows/big_bang_theory/news/1004869/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-to-appear-on-upcoming-episode-of-the-big-bang-theory/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[South Park]]'' ("[[Members Only (South Park)|Members Only]]", 2016),<ref>{{cite news|last=The Mercury News|date=November 25, 2016|title=Elon Musk uses 'South Park' to fire back at trolls|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2016/11/25/elon-musk-south-park/|work=The Denver Post|access-date=August 29, 2020|archive-date=July 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702010155/https://www.denverpost.com/2016/11/25/elon-musk-south-park/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kurp|first=Josh|date=November 18, 2016|title=Elon Musk Joins The Short List Of 'South Park' Guest Stars To Voice Themselves|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-joins-short-list-165033463.html|work=Yahoo News|access-date=August 29, 2020|archive-date=November 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119144158/https://www.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-joins-short-list-165033463.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Rick and Morty]]'' ("[[One Crew over the Crewcoo's Morty]]", 2019),<ref>{{cite web|last=Schedeen|first=Jesse|title=Elon Musk's Rick and Morty Cameo Finally Explains His 'Elon Tusk' Twitter Joke|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/11/25/elon-musk-rick-and-morty-cameo-elon-tusk|website=IGN.com|date=November 25, 2019|publisher=IGN|access-date=November 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131050424/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/11/25/elon-musk-rick-and-morty-cameo-elon-tusk|archive-date=January 31, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Cooper|first=Gael Fashingbauer|date=November 25, 2019|title=Elon Musk shows up on Rick and Morty as Elon Tusk, head of Tuskla|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musk-shows-up-on-rick-and-morty-as-elon-tusk-head-of-tuskla/|work=Cnet|access-date=August 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821033512/https://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musk-shows-up-on-rick-and-morty-as-elon-tusk-head-of-tuskla/|archive-date=August 21, 2020}}</ref> and ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' (2021).<ref>{{cite news|last=Itzkoff|first=Dave|date=May 9, 2021|title=Elon Musk Hosts a Mother's Day Episode of 'Saturday Night Live'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/09/arts/television/elon-musk-snl.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/09/arts/television/elon-musk-snl.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |url-access=limited|work=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=May 27, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He has contributed interviews to the documentaries ''[[Racing Extinction]]'' (2015) and the [[Werner Herzog]]-directed ''[[Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World|Lo and Behold]]'' (2016).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Field |first1=Kyle |title=Tesla Stars In "Racing Extinction" Documentary |date=December 2, 2015 |url=http://cleantechnica.com/2015/12/02/tesla-stars-racing-extinction-documentary/ |publisher=CleanTechnica |access-date=July 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824201304/https://cleantechnica.com/2015/12/02/tesla-stars-racing-extinction-documentary/|archive-date=August 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Ladan|first=Tanja M.|date=August 24, 2016|title=Werner Herzog Hacks the Horrors of Connectivity in 'Lo and Behold'|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/nz4p58/werner-herzog-lo-and-behold-documentary|work=Vice|access-date=September 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204205058/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/nz4p58/werner-herzog-lo-and-behold-documentary|archive-date=February 4, 2020}}</ref>
 
In China, Elon Musk has become a "trademark phenomenon" according to ''[[South China Morning Post|SCMP]]'', with over 270 different companies having registered trademarks using his English name or Chinese transliteration, for a multitude of products including printing, restaurants, textiles, and design.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 28, 2021|title=Forget world's richest man, Elon Musk is a hot Chinese trademark icon|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3154032/elon-musk-printing-service-musk-textiles|access-date=November 7, 2021|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}}</ref>
 
=== Accolades ===
 
{{Main|List of awards and honors received by Elon Musk}}
Musk was elected a fellow of the [[Royal Society]] (FRS) in 2018.<ref>{{cite news|date=May 9, 2018|title=Elon Musk elected as Fellow of the Royal Society|url=https://news.sky.com/story/elon-musk-elected-as-fellow-of-the-royal-society-11365298|work=Sky News|access-date=February 28, 2021|archive-date=January 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104135155/https://news.sky.com/story/elon-musk-elected-as-fellow-of-the-royal-society-11365298|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, he received an [[Honorary degree|honorary doctorate]] in engineering and technology at Yale,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://seas.yale.edu/news-events/news/seas-celebrates-class-2015-honors-innovators-elon-musk-and-dean-kamen |title=SEAS Celebrates Class of 2015, Honors Innovators Elon Musk and Dean Kamen |publisher=Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science |date=May 18, 2015 |access-date=August 23, 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520024948/http://seas.yale.edu/news-events/news/seas-celebrates-class-2015-honors-innovators-elon-musk-and-dean-kamen |archive-date=May 20, 2015 }}</ref> and [[IEEE Honorary Membership]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ieee.org/documents/hon_mem_rl.pdf |title=IEEE Honorary Membership Recipients |publisher=IEEE |access-date=March 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629021316/http://www.ieee.org/documents/hon_mem_rl.pdf |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Awards for his contributions to the development of the Falcon rockets include the [[American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics]] George Low Transportation Award in 2008,<ref>{{Cite web|title=George M. Low Space Transportation Award|url=https://www.aiaa.org/get-involved/honors-awards/awards/award-george-m-low-space-transportation-award|access-date=August 14, 2021|website=www|language=en}}</ref> the [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] Gold Space Medal in 2010,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fai.org/envc-awards/envc-news-awards/35094-barron-hilton-and-elon-musk-honoured-with-the-highest-awards |title=Barron Hilton and Elon Musk honoured with the highest FAI awards |publisher=Fédération Aéronautique Internationale |date=December 16, 2010 |access-date=March 25, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419204916/http://www.fai.org/envc-awards/envc-news-awards/35094-barron-hilton-and-elon-musk-honoured-with-the-highest-awards |archive-date=April 19, 2015 }}</ref> and the [[Royal Aeronautical Society]] Gold Medal in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=2012 RAeS Gold Medal |url=http://media.aerosociety.com/aerospace-insight/2012/11/23/video-elon-musk-interview/7553 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128025956/http://media.aerosociety.com/aerospace-insight/2012/11/23/video-elon-musk-interview/7553/ |archive-date=November 28, 2012 }}</ref> He was listed among [[Time 100|''Time'' magazine's 100 Most Influential People]] in 2010,<ref>{{cite news|last=Favreau|first=Jon|date=April 29, 2010|title=Elon Musk|url=http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984745_1985495,00.html|magazine=Time|access-date=February 28, 2021|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112035646/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984745_1985495,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 2013,<ref>{{cite news|last=Branson|first=Richard|date=April 18, 2013|title=Elon Musk|url=https://time100.time.com/2013/04/18/time-100/slide/elon-musk/|magazine=Time|access-date=February 28, 2021|archive-date=February 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212203010/https://time100.time.com/2013/04/18/time-100/slide/elon-musk/|url-status=live}}</ref> 2018,<ref>{{cite news|last=Milner|first=Yuri|date=|title=Elon Musk|url=https://time.com/collection/most-influential-people-2018/5217614/elon-musk/|magazine=Time|access-date=February 28, 2021|archive-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103222113/https://time.com/collection/most-influential-people-2018/5217614/elon-musk/|url-status=live}}</ref> and 2021.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Elon Musk: The 100 Most Influential People of 2021|url=https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2021/6095970/elon-musk-innovators/|access-date=September 21, 2021|magazine=Time|language=en}}</ref> Musk was selected as ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'}}s "[[Time Person of the Year|Person of the Year]]" for 2021. ''Time'' editor-in-chief [[Edward Felsenthal]] wrote that "Person of the Year is a marker of influence, and few individuals have had more influence than Musk on life on Earth, and potentially life off Earth too".<ref>{{cite news|last=Flynn|first=Kerry|date=December 13, 2021|title=Time Person of the Year: Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, named most influential of 2021|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/13/media/slug-time-person-year-elon-musk/index.html|work=CNN|access-date=December 13, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Felsenthal|first=Edward|date=December 13, 2021|title=Time 2021 The choice Elon Musk |url=https://time.com/person-of-the-year-2021-elon-musk-choice/|magazine=Time|access-date=December 13, 2021}}</ref> In 2022, Musk was elected as a member into the [[National Academy of Engineering]] "[f]or breakthroughs in design, engineering, manufacturing, and operation of reusable launch vehicles and sustainable transportation and energy systems."<ref name="lat20141214">{{cite web|title=For breakthroughs in the design, engineering, manufacturing, and operation of reusable launch vehicles and sustainable transportation and energy systems.|url=https://www.nae.edu/271501.aspx|website=nae|date=February 9, 2022|access-date=March 25, 2022}}</ref>
 
== Notes and references ==
 
=== Notes ===
 
{{reflist|group=note}}
 
=== References and citations ===
 
{{Reflist}}
 
=== Works cited ===
 
* {{Cite book |last=Belfiore |first=Michael |date=2007 |title=Rocketeers |location=New York |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-06-114902-3 |ref=Belfiore}}
* {{Cite book |last=Jackson |first=Erik |year=2004 |title=The PayPal Wars: Battles with eBay, the Media, the Mafia, and the Rest of Planet Earth |location=Los Angeles |publisher=World Ahead Publishing |isbn=978-0-9746701-0-2 |ref=Jackson}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Kidder |first1=David |last2=Hoffman |first2=Reid |year=2013 |title=The Startup Playbook: Secrets of the Fastest Growing Start-Ups from the founding Entrepreneurs |location=San Francisco |publisher=Chronicle Books |isbn=978-1-4521-0504-8 |ref=Kidder}}
* {{Cite book |last=Vance |first=Ashlee |year=2015 |title=Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future |location=New York |publisher=HarperCollinsPublishers |isbn=978-0-06-230123-9 |ref=Vance}}
 
== External links ==
 
{{Wikimedia|wikt=no|species=no|voy=no|d=Q317521|c=Category:Elon Musk|n=Category:Elon Musk|s=no|b=no|v=no}}
* {{Twitter}}
* {{C-SPAN|1020671}}
* {{IMDb name|1907769}}
* {{TED speaker}}
* [https://www.forbes.com/profile/elon-musk/ ''Forbes'' profile]
* [https://patents.justia.com/inventor/elon-musk List of inventions & patents]
 
{{S-start}}
{{S-hon}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jeff Bezos]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[The World's Billionaires|World's richest person]] | years=2022–present}}
{{s-aft|after=Incumbent}}
{{S-end}}
{{Elon Musk|state=collapsed}}
{{SpaceX}}
{{Tesla Motors}}
{{Navboxes|title=Articles related to Elon Musk|list=
{{PayPal Mafia}}
{{FRS 2018}}
{{Existential risk from artificial intelligence}}
{{Transhumanism footer}}
{{Time Persons of the Year 2001–2025}}
}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Business|Canada|Cars|Companies|Ecology|Energy|Internet|Renewable energy|Space|South Africa|Technology|United States}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Musk, Elon}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Musk, Elon}}
[[Category:Elon Musk| ]]
[[Category:Elon Musk| ]]
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:South African businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:American company founders]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century South African businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century South African businesspeople]]
[[Category:Alumni of Pretoria Boys High School]]
[[Category:American aerospace businesspeople]]
[[Category:American automotive pioneers]]
[[Category:American billionaires]]
[[Category:American billionaires]]
[[Category:American chairpersons of corporations]]
[[Category:American inventors]]
[[Category:American chief executives in the automobile industry]]
[[Category:American chief executives of energy companies]]
[[Category:American chief executives of manufacturing companies]]
[[Category:American computer businesspeople]]
[[Category:American computer programmers]]
[[Category:American corporate directors]]
[[Category:American founders of automobile manufacturers]]
[[Category:American Internet company founders]]
[[Category:American nonprofit executives]]
[[Category:American people of British descent]]
[[Category:American people of Canadian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Pennsylvania Dutch descent]]
[[Category:American philanthropists]]
[[Category:American philanthropists]]
[[Category:American software engineers]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:American technology chief executives]]
[[Category:Canadian businesspeople]]
[[Category:American technology company founders]]
[[Category:Canadian inventors]]
[[Category:Automotive businesspeople]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Businesspeople in software]]
[[Category:Child prodigies|Musk]]
[[Category:Canadian automotive pioneers]]
[[Category:Time People of the Year]]
[[Category:Canadian billionaires]]
[[Category:Canadian chairpersons of corporations]]
[[Category:Canadian computer businesspeople]]
[[Category:Canadian computer programmers]]
[[Category:Canadian corporate directors]]
[[Category:Canadian founders of automobile manufacturers]]
[[Category:Canadian nonprofit executives]]
[[Category:Canadian people of British descent]]
[[Category:Canadian people of South African descent]]
[[Category:Canadian philanthropists]]
[[Category:Canadian software engineers]]
[[Category:Canadian technology chief executives]]
[[Category:Canadian technology company founders]]
[[Category:Chief technology officers]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:Free speech activists]]
[[Category:Giving Pledgers]]
[[Category:Hyperloop]]
[[Category:Musk family]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of Canada]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States]]
[[Category:PayPal people]]
[[Category:People associated with solar power]]
[[Category:People from Pretoria]]
[[Category:People in the space industry]]
[[Category:People with acquired American citizenship]]
[[Category:People with Asperger syndrome]]
[[Category:Royal Aeronautical Society Gold Medal winners]]
[[Category:Science fiction fans]]
[[Category:South African billionaires]]
[[Category:South African chairpersons of corporations]]
[[Category:South African company founders]]
[[Category:South African computer programmers]]
[[Category:South African corporate directors]]
[[Category:South African emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:South African people of British descent]]
[[Category:South African people of Canadian descent]]
[[Category:South African philanthropists]]
[[Category:Space advocates]]
[[Category:SpaceX people]]
[[Category:Sustainable transport pioneers]]
[[Category:Tesla, Inc.]]
[[Category:Tesla, Inc. people]]
[[Category:The Boring Company]]
[[Category:Time 100]]
[[Category:Time Person of the Year]]
[[Category:Twitter people]]
[[Category:Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania alumni]]
[[Category:White South African people]]

Revision as of 15:39, 24 October 2022

Elon Musk

FRS
Musk at the Royal Society admissions day in London, July 2018
Musk at the Royal Society admissions day in London, July 2018
Born
Elon Reeve Musk

(1971-06-28) June 28, 1971 (age 53)
Pretoria, South Africa
Citizenship
  • South Africa (1971–1988)
  • Canada (1989–2001)
  • United States (2002–present)
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Entrepreneur
  • engineer
Years active1995–present
Net worthUS$ 209 billion (January 2021)[1]
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Title
Political partyIndependent
Spouse(s)
​
(
m. 2000; div. 2008)
​
(
m. 2010; div. 2012)

(m. 2013; div. 2016)
Partner(s)Grimes (2018–2021)
Children7 (1 deceased)
Parent(s)
Relatives
AwardsFellow of the Royal Society (2018)
Signature
Elon Musk

Elon Reeve Musk FRS (born June 28, 1971) is a South African-Canadian-American businessman. He was born in South Africa. He moved to Canada and later became a U.S. citizen. Musk is the current CEO & Chief Product Architect of Tesla, Inc., a company that makes electric vehicles. He is also the CEO of Solar City, a company that makes solar panels, and the CEO & CTO of SpaceX, an aerospace company. In 2022, he became the owner of the social media site Twitter after buying it for USD $44 billion.[2]

In August 2020, Bloomberg ranked Musk third among the richest people on the planet with a net worth to be $198 billion.[3] With a net worth of around US$255 billion as of December 2021,[4] Musk is the wealthiest person in the world. In 2021, he was Time Person of the Year.

Early life and career

Elon Musk and his brother started Zip2, a software company, in 1995. In 1999 he sold it and became a millionaire. He then started X.com, which merged with the company Confinity to make PayPal. X.com was then renamed to PayPal, and he focused on growing the part of the company.[5][6] He then started SpaceX and became the CEO of Tesla.

He has Asperger syndrome.

Musk was born to a Canadian mother and a South African-born British father in Pretoria, South Africa.[7] His parents divorced in 1980 and he mainly lived with his father in many different places in South Africa.[8] He went to Waterkloof House Preparatory School and graduated from Pretoria Boys High School. He then moved to Canada in 1988 when he was 17 after he obtained Canadian citizenship through his mother. He got it before his South African military service was to begin. He felt that it would be easier to immigrate into the United States from Canada than from South Africa.

Education

He spent two years at the Queen's School of Business in Kingston, Ontario. He then transferred to the University of Pennsylvania where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the Wharton School. He stayed a year to finish his second bachelor's degree in physics. Then he moved to California to attempt to get a PhD in applied physics at Stanford but he left the program after only two days because he wanted to pursue his entrepreneurial aspirations (start businesses) in the Internet, renewable energy and outer space.[9] He became an American citizen in 2002.[10]

Projects

At the end of 2016, Musk founded The Boring Company which focuses on tunneling and infrastructure. He mentioned Los Angeles traffic as the reason for starting this company. In March 2017 Elon Musk announced he had started another company that aimed to merge human brains and computer called Neuralink.

As of April 2016, he was worth over $10 billion, making him the 37th most wealthy American.[11] Musk is also known for helping design and create the Falcon Heavy rocket, which successfully launched on February 6, 2018.

Related pages

References

  1. ↑ "Bloomberg Billionaires Index". Bloomberg. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  2. ↑ Feiner, Lauren (April 25, 2022). "Twitter accepts Elon Musk's buyout deal". CNBC. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Musk Passes Zuckerberg to Become World's Third-Wealthiest Person". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Elon Musk". Forbes.
  5. ↑ "Tesla Motors and PayPal co-founder Elon Musk buys $17 million Bel Air mansion". San Francisco Chronicle. January 4, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Something New Under the Sun". Slate. November 5, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  7. ↑ "At Home With Elon Musk: The (Soon-to-Be) Bachelor Billionaire". Forbes. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Rocket Man: The otherworldly ambitions of Elon Musk". San Jose Mercury News. April 10, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Inspirations with Elon Musk". OnInnovation. Archived from the original on February 27, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Triumph of His Will". Esquire. November 15, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  11. ↑ "List of billionaires". Forbes. Retrieved May 1, 2016.

External links


Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elon_Musk&oldid=357029"